Introduced Version





SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No.
_____




DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOLUTION

    A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION supporting the efforts of the Indiana Congressional delegation to seek federal funding for the U.S. 31 freeway project in the upcoming highway bill.



ZAKAS




     , read first time and referred to Committee on








Introduced

First Regular Session 113th General Assembly (2003)


SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION



    A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION supporting the efforts of the Indiana Congressional delegation to seek federal funding for the U.S. 31 freeway project in the upcoming highway bill.

    Whereas, U.S. 31, from Indianapolis to South Bend, has been planned for improvement to an interstate quality highway; and

    Whereas, U.S. 31 connects Indiana's two largest economic markets, Indianapolis and the South Bend and Elkhart areas; and

    Whereas, the population of the U.S. 31 corridor is growing at a rate of 50% higher than the rate of growth in the rest of the state; and

    Whereas, the travel on U.S. 31 is projected to increase by 59% in 20 years, with traffic in some segments growing by a full 100%; and

    Whereas, the economic impact of a U.S. 31 freeway has been projected by the Indiana Department of Transportation and its consultants to create over 5000 jobs, save billions of dollars in travel time reductions and return $3.20 in benefits for each $1.00 spent to build it; and

    Whereas, the Indiana Department of Transportation is currently engaged in the federally required environmental

impact statement preparation studies in three areas of the U.S. 31 corridor: St. Joseph/Marshall Counties, Kokomo/Howard County and Hamilton County; and

    Whereas, it is in the best interest of the citizens and businesses of north central Indiana, and all of Indiana, to move without delay from planning to the implementation of study findings; and

    Whereas, any additional federal funding that can be obtained in the upcoming reauthorization of TEA-21 for the U.S. 31 freeway improvement project will help to advance this project: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly

        
of the State of Indiana, the House of Representatives

    concurring:

    SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly supports the efforts of the Indiana Congressional delegation to seek federal funding for the U.S. 31 freeway project in the upcoming highway bill.
    SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to Congressman Chris Chocola, Senator Richard G. Lugar, Senator Evan Bayh, Governor Frank O'Bannon, and the Indiana Department of Transportation.