Overview
Much of Southwest Indiana consists of a rural landscape with small cities and towns located along state and U.S. highways. The construction of I-69 between Indianapolis and Evansville is likely to spur new development. Community planning and action are needed to ensure that future development enhances community character and occurs with minimal negative impact on the landscape.
Documented in the Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for I-69, the I-69 Community Planning Program (CPP) includes the release of planning grants and the development of a planning toolbox., Both elements are designed to assist communities in the preparation of plans and the selection of planning measures for implementing those plans. More specifically, the I-69 CPP Grants provide financial resources to 31 eligible communities to support their initial efforts in planning for the future. The I-69 CPP Toolbox provides technical resources that will be available both during the granting process and beyond.
The I-69 CPP Toolbox is designed to meet a variety of needs and circumstances that exist along the highway corridor. Planning is a local decision and INDOT is not suggesting tools to implement but rather providing a range of tools that could be used. The toolbox contains approximately 60 tools that are provided in alphabetical order and also are organized around five basic planning issues:
- Protecting Natural Resources
- Encouraging Economic Development
- Managing Transportation and Infrastructure Impacts
- Directing Development and Growth
- Increasing Local Fundamental Planning Capacity
Local planning capacity, or the amount of planning resources available to achieve local goals, is an important consideration for communities in selecting the tools that are likely to be most effective. To assist communities in determining local planning capacity, the toolbox includes an evaluation tool. Within the five topical sections listed above, each of the tools is associated with the level of local planning capacity needed to implement them most effectively.
