Letter: Draft shows Mid-States not needed; Attend tomorrow’s meeting
INDOT and the Mid-States Corridor Project team will present the draft of the Tier 2 Study on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. It’s interesting to note that INDOT and the Mid-States Corridor people are suing 121 residents and taxpayers in Dubois County for access to their land. INDOT claims they need this access to evaluate the proposed route of the Mid-States Corridor. How can they present a draft without having obtained access?
The Draft is full of enlightening information. The primary purpose is to improve connectivity, which is defined as the ability to move freight, freight flow and intermodal access in southern Indiana. The secondary purposes are to improve safety, relieve congestion and to promote economic development. The findings of the draft seem to justify a no build decision.
Moving freight, freight flow and intermodal access are not currently impeded. Access to rail and air freight facilities are as close as Huntingburg; with, larger rail, air and even marine facilities are as close as Evansville, Indianapolis and Louisville. All of which accessible via current interstate highways I-64, I-65 and I-69.
The Draft further indicates that Safety is not an issue along the current US 231. It’s data shows the crash tendency is low in and around the Jasper/Huntingburg area. In fact, US 231 all the way to I-69 near Crane has a crash tendency lower than average elsewhere in Indiana. In short, US 231 is a safer than average highway.
Congestion seems to not be a concern in the study area. 18 urban and 14 rural intersections were analyzed. Yes, there was some congestion at some intersections at certain times of the day; but, there was only 1 urban and 1 rural intersection that received a failing grade. These failing grades were in the morning rush for the urban intersection and during the afternoon rush for the rural intersection. The Draft further stated that adding a passing lane between Huntingburg and Jasper and improving a few intersections would alleviate most of the congestion.
Regarding the much ballyhooed Economic Development, the Draft only postulated that an increase in vehicular might increase consumer traffic. Nothing positive not even a “if you build it they will come” statement. Just a maybe, maybe not.
The Draft study looked at the net growth and influx of residents projected over the next 30 to 50 years. It’s findings are that the area has a fairly stable population; and, that the current roadways will be able to handle the projected population growth.
It looks like the Mid-States Corridor really is not needed. The reduction of taxes, the required transparency of Economic Development agencies, which should included all RDAs, and this study all indicate INDOT should cancel the Mid-States Corridor.
Let’s all attend the INDOT Open House and let INDOT and the Mid-States Corridor Project folks know we read the draft. Let’s stand up, again, and say “No” to the Corridor.
Jim Arvin
Rutherford Township
Martin County
To clarify, this is not Mr. Jim Arvin of Jasper, the former CEO of Jasper Desk
