County Council considering $1.75 million contribution to corridor study

While Dubois County Council members each had some reservation on contributing $1.75 million to a study for a new highway through the county, they all accepted the fact that their support was needed to even consider making the project come to fruition.

“We’re taking a bit of a chance,” Council President Jerry Hunefeld said. “This is not a hundred percent guaranteed. There is some risk involved. We have to weigh that too.”

He also acknowledged that under the current fiscal situation with the state and federal entities involved, this was the best way to move forward. “This window may never happen again,” he said.

Attorney Bill Kaiser, representing the Regional Development Authority created to build the Midstate Corridor through the county, appeared at the recent council meeting to answer any questions regarding a proposed resolution. The resolution would bind the county to commit the funds with the potential for them having to contribute additional funds to the first step — a proposed $7 million dollar environmental impact study of the entire route from the Ohio River to I-69 — of the process to create the road.

The study must be completed for the road to receive federal funding. Estimates on the cost of the road range from $300 million to $400 million.

“This road doesn’t get built without federal funding,” Kaiser told the county council.

A group of local public officials and private business owners have been pushing for the creation of a four-lane interstate grade highway through the county since 2012. The road would likely connect the improved portion of U.S. 231 in Spencer County to I-69. The route through the county is unknown at this time but the Tier 1 study will help determine the route.

According to Kaiser, the RDA has already collected $3.8 million in private commitments to the Tier 1 study.

Kaiser reiterated that the agreement ensured county representatives would be involved to represent the interests of the county in regards to the proposed four-lane interstate grade highway. He added though that the Indiana Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Commission would dictate where the road was built as well as to what standard (e.g. two-lane, four-lane etc.).

By the end of the month, INDOT will be sending the RDA the approved interlocal agreement and then the RDA has 30 business days to show they have the needed funding committed to move forward on the environmental impact study. In anticipation of the approved funding, INDOT has already started to accumulate all of the previous work and planning completed on the area attached to the U.S. 231 improvements that ended at the Dubois and Spencer County border as well as work completed by the private group in 2012.

The City of Jasper recently agreed to provide $1.4 million and Huntingburg is being asked to provide $350,000. The split between the local entities was determined by the approximate percentage of Local Option Income Tax each receives annually.

Kaiser pointed out that in the current legislative environment, the construction project would benefit from the local entities demonstrating their commitment through the local funds as well as the impact the road could have on rural areas. “Rural development is something that has traditionally occurred around highways,” Kaiser said adding that the highway’s impact on Orange and Martin counties would play a role in it being built.

Councilwoman Becky Beckman pointed out that the funding is just the beginning and there is no guarantee the road will be built.

“You are 100 percent correct,” Kaiser said. “But if we don’t take the risk to move forward on this, it will never happen.”

The council balked a bit at the idea they would be required to provide more money in the future. Kaiser explained that the county and entities involved may need to put more skin in the game to attract the $300 to $400 million necessary to build the road.

“You’re saying that there may be an opportunity where if we fund this $3.5 (million) collectively, that we may have to pay more only down the road?” Councilman Craig Greulich asked Kaiser.

Kaiser explained that yes, as the project moves forward and further studies are required, the local entities could be approached to help fund them.

Kaiser further explained that federal funding would come as an 80-20 match with INDOT providing 20 percent of the funding. He said that INDOT is considering the $7 million as part of that match. “What they (INDOT) have said is that they can reserve $23 million in their next funding cycle for this project,” Kaiser said.

That next funding cycle begins in 2023.

The council decided to table the decision on the resolution to take more time to examine the resolution with the RDA. They will consider the resolution at a special meeting planned for October 10 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at the County Annex.