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.
, read first time and referred to Committee on
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,
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.