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Public meetings scheduled for Midstates Corridor project

ByFree Press Staff Reading Time: 3 minutes

A series of public meetings is planned as the Indiana Department of Transportation begins the Tier 1 Environmental Impact study of the proposed Midstates Corridor.

Public meetings will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday this week. 

Public involvement is a key part of the environmental study process. The first of several public meetings are planned for early August. The meetings will introduce members of the community to the Mid-States Corridor Project, explain the tiered study approach, describe the potential preliminary corridors and introduce ways for the public to stay informed and provide feedback. 

Meetings are planned for Washington, French Lick and Jasper at the following locations: 

Monday, Aug. 5: Washington High School, 608 E. Walnut St., Washington, Ind. The meeting will be held in the auditorium — enter through Gate 4 off 7th St. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday Aug. 6: Springs Valley High School, 326 S. Larry Bird Blvd., French Lick, Ind. In the cafeteria from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8: Jasper High School, 1600 St. Charles St., Jasper Ind. In the cafeteria from 3 to 7 p.m.

Each meeting feature an open house format. A short project presentation is planned for 6 p.m. Project team members will be at multiple stations to answer questions and comment cards will be available to offer public input. Additional public meetings will be held at project milestones. 

Find more information regarding the Mid-States Corridor project including how to sign up for e-newsletters, text alerts, social media updates and to learn about the project office location/hours of operation please visitwww.midstatescorridor.com.  

The Mid-States Corridor Project examines the concept of an improved highway connection in southwest Indiana that begins at the William H. Natcher Bridge crossing of the Ohio River near Rockport. It continues generally through the Huntingburg and Jasper area and extends north to connect to Interstate 69 (either directly or via SR 37). 

The Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority (RDA) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) have started a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for major construction projects that will include federal funding. 

The Tier 1 EIS will include the following:

  • Analysis and comparison of benefits, impacts and costs of a range of reasonable options to identify a preferred corridor for the proposed facility
  • Assessment of the social, economic and environmental impacts of each corridor, along with consideration of ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts
  • Identification of the project’s purpose and need, and consideration of a variety of options to meet both, including improvements to and use of existing facilities and construction of new roadway facilities
  • Analysis of a no-build alternative to serve as a baseline for comparison

The Tier 1 EIS is expected to take just over two years to complete with a Record of Decision (ROD) expected in summer 2021. The ROD is the Federal Highway Administration’s final approval of the preferred corridor. 

After a Tier 1 ROD, a more detailed Tier 2 environmental study will determine specific alignments and preferred alternatives within the selected Tier 1 corridor. 

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