Dubois County Commissioners question “insurmountable” local match for Mid-States Corridor

Dubois County commissioners raised significant concerns about the financial burden of the proposed Midstates Corridor project during a meeting with Indiana Department of Transportation officials, questioning both the required local match and long-term maintenance costs for the existing U.S. 231.

INDOT project manager Kyanna Wheeler and Lochmueller Group project manager Jason Dupont presented updates on the $900 million to $1.35 billion highway project.

INDOT is seeking a 10% local match of $90 million to $135 million from participating counties and municipalities to assist in the construction of the highway. However, Commissioner Chad Blessinger called the local match requirement “insurmountable” and questioned whether the lack of funding could kill the project entirely.

“If that’s a project killer, it’s best to know that now, right?” Blessinger said. “If INDOT says, ‘Well, you don’t have that then this is a no go.’ The sooner the better on that would probably save everybody a lot of headaches.”

Wheeler acknowledged the challenge but said INDOT remains committed to moving forward with at least the first contract phase of construction regardless of the local match.

“It is a required component of the project,” Wheeler confirmed. “A lack of local match could affect our ability to move forward as currently planned.”

She clarified that this could affect the speed at which the road is constructed and how it is contracted out in multiple phases.

Wheeler outlined several potential solutions INDOT can pursue with local taxing entities to move the project forward and meet the match requirement. These included a phased implementation, alternative funding sources, in-kind services, and road relinquishment agreements.

“We are open to working with you and exploring various potential solutions to help with coming up with that amount,” Wheeler said. “Our goal is to maintain progress while ensuring that funding commitments are equitable and sustainable.”

She further explained that the local contribution could come from several sources, including the Regional Development Authority, the cities of Jasper and Huntingburg, and even private investment.

The Regional Development Authority has already contributed more than $7 million — half of which came from the county and cities of Huntingburg and Jasper — toward the project’s Tier I, which Wheeler said counts toward the local match requirement.

As part of the project, INDOT wants the county and Huntingburg, and the cities of Jasper and Huntingburg, to take over U.S. 231.

Wheeler said this road relinquishment could represent “significant” value toward the local match, even if INDOT pays to bring the roadway up to a certain condition and provides equipment like snow plows for continued maintenance before doing so.

However, commissioners expressed skepticism about their ability to maintain a road of that caliber. Commissioner Serice Stenftenagel raised concerns about manpower, facility space, equipment needs, and associated costs, including wages and insurance, that the new road would require.

Blessinger questioned whether the county would receive adequate funding to maintain the road, noting that counties typically receive road funding based on lane miles and road classification.

“My concern is that there’s a finite amount of money that will come in even if it increases a certain percentage for more people driving here, maybe more people buying gas here,” Blessinger said, adding that this net income may not be enough to maintain the road.

Wheeler and Dupont informed the county that grant programs and funding sources are available to support road maintenance. She told the commissioners they would follow up with specific information on funding mechanisms for road relinquishment, including lane-mile allocations and tax revenue.

She further outlined the benefits to the county as being the sole owner of the highway and, therefore, controlling the standards and permitting for the roadway rather than having to abide by INDOT regulations.

Blessinger asked how the takeover of the highway, with INDOT paying them to do so and even donating equipment like snow plows to the county to maintain that road, would be considered part of the county’s contribution to the Mid-States Corridor project.

“It is a big value to the state to not have two parallel corridors,” Wheeler said. “If we can allocate funds towards someone else maintaining that road, that’s very beneficial to us.”

She explained that INDOT standards are more costly to meet for road maintenance and in other areas, such as creating ingress/egress paths for a new business along the road. It would be less costly to maintain the road to county standards.

Wheeler also clarified that, though they are open to negotiating for the county to take it over sooner, INDOT would turn the highway over to local authorities after the completion of the Mid-States Corridor in 2032 or 2033.

During public comment, resident Vickie Rountree asked commissioners to publicly state their positions on the project, citing concerns about agricultural impacts and the financial burden on taxpayers.

Blessinger responded that while he sees some value in the project, he doesn’t believe the benefits to Dubois County residents outweigh the costs.

Commissioner Stenftenagel stated she was concerned about the cost.

Commissioner Nick Hostetter expressed support for the project despite cost concerns, citing the need for improved north-south transportation for local industries.

“We are one of very few industrialized counties that doesn’t have a four-lane north-south route,” Hostetter said. “I do see the value in getting this road up.”

He said many questions still needed to be answered, but he saw value in completing the road.