Mid-States Corridor process leaves residents in the lurch
Organizers estimated about 600 people showed up for the meeting discussing the Mid-States Corridor at Jasper Middle School Thursday evening.
While no new information was released by Lochmueller Group, the company tasked with handling the tiered studies for a proposed improved highway through Dubois County, the information made available about two weeks ago in their report was put on display on a larger scale.
The report released in January showed the group’s efforts to refine the potential highway down to five locations each with varying options on the type of highway that could be built. The group started with ten routes and each one was evaluated with several considerations including expected costs, impacts to both natural resources and the community, and performance against the core goals of the project. Those goals are to increase accessibility to major business markets, provide more efficient truck/freight travel in southern Indiana, reduce crashes in southern Indiana and increase access to major rail and air intermodal centers.
A study conducted by Cambridge Systematics, Inc., in 2012 determined the impact and reasoning behind improving the corridor through Dubois County to connect to the north and south. They estimated up to $1.3 billion in economic impact to the region as well as relieve congestion on other highways in the state and increase the safety of the existing U.S. 231. (This study was conducted well before the public/private partnership funded the ongoing Tier I study being conducted by Lochmueller.)
Two of the recommended routes travel west of U.S. 231 in Dubois County and meet up with I-69 in Washington. Two of the routes follow U.S. 231 while circumventing Huntingburg and Jasper before going through Loogootee and connecting with I-69 near Crane Naval Base. One route heads east of U.S. 231 and goes through French Lick before connecting with U.S. 37 around Mitchell.
While relatively new information was scarce, attendees to the meeting were handed packets with questionnaires and maps to be used for feedback. Additionally, several enlarged maps showing specific segments of the five proposed routes were on display with representatives of the Lochmueller Group available to answer questions at each station. Along with the analog versions of these questionnaires and maps, attendees were told the same forms could be filled out online and the maps downloaded — printing might be difficult because of the size of the files — at the MidStates Corridor website.
The current study can be downloaded here.
In the packets and online, surveyors were asked to rank the five routes in order of their preference. They were also asked to identify areas of concern in regard to those routes. According to Lochmueller’s spokesperson Mindy Peterson, those comments are important in the group’s decision-making process. “We had a resident contact us about a cemetery that was close to their home that they wanted us to be aware of,” she said. “That type of information is very important.”
Those responses and results are logged and kept on file with Lochmueller Group as part of the project process.
Lochmueller is expected to have a final decision on the route by this fall. At this point, the shaded portions signifying the general locations of the routes on the current maps cover an area about two miles wide. The decision this fall will narrow down the preferred route and identify the roughly 2,000- to 3,000- foot wide area in which the road could be located. A more refined location will be revealed in the summer of 2021.
After the route is chosen this fall, Lochmueller will host a public hearing and record comments from residents and stakeholders in the project. According to Peterson, each of those comments or concerns has to be addressed before making the final decision and submitting it to the federal level.
At that point, the second tier of the study will begin to determine the actual construction location of the highway.
The meeting held Thursday was filled with people concerned about the proposed highways for varying reasons. In addition to impacts on personal property, the environment and local economy, some attendees worried about the potential increase in drug and human trafficking through the area.
An anonymous letter lambasting the process, the cost to taxpayers and need for the new highway was also planted on vehicle windshields in the parking lot at the Jasper Middle School. The writer urged voters to contact their elected representatives to oppose the highway.
Additionally, a Change.org petition has been created seeking 5,000 signatures opposing two of the routes that will likely impact Hoosier State Forest and other natural areas.
While not addressing those concerns specifically at the meeting, Project Director David Goffinett assured attendees the group wants to hear objections and most importantly, why people object to the proposed highway.
The Tier 1 study is funded through a public/private partnership and administered through the Midstate Corridor Regional Development Authority (RDA). The MidStates Corridor RDA is a public organization comprised of five individuals selected and approved by public officials in Dubois and Spencer County.
Those members are Mark Schroeder, chairman and CEO of German American Bancorp; attorney Scott Blazey; David Drake of Huntingburg; Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College; and Ken Mulzer Jr., president of Mulzer Crushed Stone. Each member has a four-year term on the board. Their meetings are public and held in Jasper on the following days: Friday, May 1, 2020, 4:00 p.m.; Friday, August 7, 2020, 4:00 p.m.; and Friday, November 6, 2020, 4:00 p.m. — all times EST and located at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP, 212 West Sixth Street, Jasper.
In addition to the meetings and online contact information, residents are invited to get on the project’s email list or receive notifications via text. Also, a local project office is at Vincennes University’s Jasper campus, administration building, Room 216. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or by appointment. The office phone number is 812-482-3116.
Most people don’t even understand what a Regional Development Authority (RDA) is. Please read the Muncie article on this topic and it will give you an idea of how these things are an abuse of power! The RDA’s that get to approve these projects have hand-selected people that chair the authorities. No surprise that the people selected to serve on these RDA are typically wealthy business owners. These RDA’s are given way too much authority and they wrote the rules in such a way that our own elected officials can’t even be a part of the authorities. This is all by design so that the public has less input/control and those on the RDA (again, many of them wealthy business owners) can do what they want to increase profit.
https://www.muncievoice.com/12691/forming-a-regional-development-authority-is-a-bad-idea/
Consider what growth means.
About the only chance of stopping the unnecessary expansion of roadways, and specifically, the Mid State Corridor, is your vote this fall. If you are against the Mid State Corridor because it is a fear it could disrupt your property and quality of life, by all means please continue your resentment of this idea if it is found through this process that your property is safe, for the benefit of your community.
While I concede that the project COULD stimulate “growth”, we must choose what type of community we want to enjoy. Growth does not equate a higher quality of life for our residents. What exactly is the goal of such growth? Where is the need? We live in a state that enjoys an extremely low unemployment rate, not to mention in a County that is a shining example of prosperity. This road will erode and displace not only neighborhoods, but also the center of economic activity as businesses relocate to the access areas of the interstate, leaving behind a ghost town.
Why do you enjoy living here? Now please let me know why you would support the affliction and degradation of the quality of life in Dubois County.
If Evansville, Gary, and Indianapolis are taken as examples of what becomes of a community when interstate roadways are utilized to promote an influx of population and industry, we must ask ourselves, is this what we want? No, it is not. If so, then why are you here and not living in the big city?
We value our town and our county, with a wonderful balance of strong economy and small town charm.
Again, consider what growth means.
Amen!
So many families & businesses on the “O” route are just sick over the possibility of a highway/new construction coming thru this area. Parts of Hoosier National–the forests; the waterways; the wildlife & landscape would be destroyed; along with family homes; such as ours and many, many, many more. The “O” route would decimate sev county’s scenic wooded rolling hills and ravines; and our way of life would exist no more. Many families and farms are on that route; along with personal properties that line the countryside. Homes, Land, farms, animals, livestock, wildlife, trees, creeks, streams, the Lost River, and many, many other natural resources & Historic Pathways live their lives there and do NOT want to see it all change-and end. The way of life as we know it –would be changed forever. There are other routes that seem to make much more sense; concerning traffic flow needs & larger scale industrial transportation. “Route O” is more of personal lands; homes; and for the people that live there and utilize the area. Also; the route “O” would leave out many small towns in the area; such as Orleans & Paoli –they would NOT benefit from route “O” whatsoever; and would in fact, LOSE $$$ traffic in those towns. To change an entire way of life and landscape; would harm so man people along that “O” route. The landscape would not be replaceable; homes would be destroyed; many farms would cease to exist; land that has been handed down in families would no longer exist; wildlife would be completely disrupted -and lost; trees would be gone from the area for years; creeks would be damaged; nothing would be as it has been –ever again. It’s gut-wrenching to think of all the damage a rural route such as “O” would do –the amount of harm and devastation would be irreplaceable. No amount of money or “shortcuts” would be worth it to any of the folks that live and treasure this area. Meanwhile, there are other proposed routes that would benefit in much greater ways for a much greater volume of traffic —for transportation regarding daily; trucking; industry and tourism. Route “O” Is more private & wooded & hilly & full of deep ravines. It’s beyond life-changing for all of us in the area; we’re terrified that our way of life would be gone forever. Please, please take into consideration the amount of personal private families that live in these areas; and all that’s at stake for us to lose. We’d be losing so much —-land, homes, farms, animals, livestock, wildlife, trees, forests, farms, and natural resources. Those things are not worth losing to any of us that live here. We wish to preserve our way of life; we have chosen to live and thrive here in these hills –and could continue to do so if allowed. The obvious route to many of us; is the route #231. It’s just right there –on the map and makes so much sense for the area. It’s “mid-way” for the area. Also, highway#50 traffic could benefit GREATLY in that area. Highway #50 is HEAVILY traveled; and it’s one lane; and has so much traffic backed up thru Loogootee & that area. There are lots of factories in that area that could also benefit from that route with trucking. Much industry in that area would benefit greatly from that route. There is also Crane; which employs 4,000+ –and that would also benefit that area with transportation and jobs. The rural area of the “O” route would not allow such a large-scale highway —and the cost-effectiveness would be just as costly as a large scale route/highway – on #231. #231 would be much less invasive for the communities involved; and yet benefit many of those communities along that path. A way of life and living could be preserved for so many if the rural area “O” is saved and spared of destruction. Development is different than destruction; route “O” would be DESTRUCTION. Please, Please take all of this into consideration. Sincerely, Rural Orange Co residents; & the Percifield family
As a Daviess County resident that lives in direct line for the route in the Glendale area my new home will be taken. We live 2 miles from 257 why not fix that road. Glendale area is a wildlife area with fishing and hunting along with a busy campground. Our wildlife areas in Indiana must be left alone. Fix and preserve the roads we already have. People in this area of Indiana live here for the peace and quite our little communities provide. We don’t need super highways we just need our roads to be taken care of and 257 open year round instead of being closed for flooding.