Letter: Mid-States Corridor is a waste of funds compared to Indiana’s actual road needs
Last week The Dubois County Free Press ran an article by Leslie Bonilla Muniz about the upcoming shortfall of highway funds. Ms. Muniz’s article was reiterating an article run in August 2024 with data from Purdue’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP).
Once again, we are presented with indisputable evidence that the Mid-States Corridor is a waste of our limited highway funds. Both the LTAP study and Ms. Muniz’s research show that INDOT’s revenue will experience slump by 2030, just when Gov. Braun will want the construction to start on the Corridor. Currently INDOT is recommending we spend $1.3 billion annually just on improving our roads and bridges.
INDOT has offered more than a dozen ways to increase revenue, all at the expense of the taxpayer. Some of the ways are to increase fuel taxes, add user fees, increase registration fees, taxing electric vehicles, pulling monies from sales and income taxes and create toll roads and bridges. All of this just to maintain our current roads and bridges
What both the LTAP study and last week’s article do not discuss is new construction. The cost of new construction far exceeds the cost to maintain and upgrade our current highways and roads. We all know we are already taxed enough and the real problem is that we have a spending problem. We now need to remind our elected leaders of this fact.
The Mid-States Corridor is nothing but a waste of tax-payer’s money and a diversion of badly needed highway funds. In Dubois, Martin and Daviess counties there are many state and county roads and bridges that need not only repairs but upgrades. Any money diverted to a new terrain Corridor will impact our ability to travel within our home counties.
The property Rights Alliance (PRA) is diligently working to stop the Mid-States Corridor. They are starting to make a difference with their organized approach to fighting the Dubois/Spencer County cabal that is only interested in lining the pockets of Hank Menke, Ken Mulzer and yes, Gov. Braun. Gov. Braun even admitted that “they” were not trying to “lure” new business or industry to the area. This admission is 100% counter to an oft touted benefit of the Mid-States Corridor, economic development.
The PRA meets weekly and is seeking new members. I urge everyone in the path of the corridor, and all those opposed, to attend their meetings and join the effort.
Gov. Braun will be at the Calumet in Jasper on January 9. I urge all those who oppose the Mid-States Corridor to attend this Chamber of Commerce event. It’s time to show our opposition to the new governor. It’s time to tell our elected officials no new taxes, fees, tolls or any other way to finance the Mid-States Corridor. It’s time for home rule to come back home, so we the people can decide what to spend our limited highway funds on.
Jim Arvin
Rutherford Township
Martin County
