| Frequently
Asked Questions 1. What is happening on SR 25? 2. Why is this proposed project taking so long? I thought the 1995 study identified a route. 4. Where can I see maps of the areas potentially affected by this proposed project? 5. When will the current study be completed? 6. Is money available to build the roadway? 7. Which segment of the proposed project will be built first?
1. WHAT IS HAPPENING ON SR 25? The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has begun preliminary design and environmental studies within the Lafayette-to-Logansport Hoosier Heartland Highway State Route 25 study corridor. The study corridor begins near Lafayette at the I-65 interchange and extends northeast to Logansport. The Lafayette-to-Logansport section of the Hoosier Heartland Highway is the next link in the state's plan for a 99-mile transportation corridor from Lafayette to Fort Wayne. The purpose of the proposed project is to provide for safer, more convenient travel. Qk4 was selected by INDOT to perform the preliminary design and environmental analysis work for this proposed project. The proposed SR 25 widening project is in the pre-design and environmental documentation stage. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was approved by FHWA and INDOT in August 2002. The public comment period on the DEIS extended to November 1, 2002, and included Public Hearings at three locations in the project area. INDOT recommended a Preferred Alternative on January 22, 2003. The alternative recommended by INDOT is Alternative 2. (See description in the DEIS handout.) 2. WHY IS THIS PROPOSED PROJECT TAKING SO LONG? I THOUGHT THE 1995 STUDY IDENTIFIED A ROUTE. Many people want to know why INDOT has initiated another study when a study was completed in 1995. The 1995 study (prepared by the Corradino Group) was conducted to determine if the proposed project was fiscally feasible and whether it could be justified using basic highway planning principles. That preliminary study recommended a four-lane highway that, in general, would run south of existing SR 25 from I-65 to just east of Delphi. From that point, it would closely follow the existing alignment to an intersection with the already completed 4-lane section that ties into US 24. No environmental analyses of the potential impacts of the proposed project were performed as part of the 1995 study. The present study is the next step in the process to advance the proposed project to a final decision. This study will prepare the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is required under the National Environmental Protection Act to make the proposed project eligible for federal transportation funds. The current work will also go much further into more detailed design and environmental analysis. 3. WHO WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON WHICH ALTERNATIVE WILL BE BUILT? WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTING THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE? The EIS is a disclosure document. It details the process through which the proposed transportation project was developed, along with potential impacts resulting from the project. INDOT will make a decision on what is the preferred alternative, however, this does not commit the proposed project to proceed to further action. For that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) must issue a Record of Decision (ROD). It is important to note that public comment is a major factor considered in reaching a final decision, as is the input of other involved state and federal agencies. The EIS process will identify issues of concern. Issue identification is accomplished by an extensive public involvement campaign and detailed research into the existing conditions in the study area. Information is gathered, and items such as farms and neighborhoods, parks, wetlands, major employers, major utilities, streams and their floodplains, cemeteries, historic structures and districts, schools, hospitals, railroads, airports, and habitat for threatened or endangered species are located. Using the above information, teams of planners and engineers design alternatives that meet the identified need while avoiding all, or most of, the adverse impacts to the human and natural environment. 4. WHERE CAN I SEE MAPS OF THE AREAS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY THIS PROJECT? The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed SR 25 Hoosier Heartland Highway project from Lafayette to Logansport was approved on August 19, 2002, by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). Beginning September 13, 2002, the DEIS is available for public review at the following locations: INDOT's
Crawfordsville District Development Engineer's Office INDOT's
LaPorte District Development INDOT's
Public Hearings Office Tippecanoe
County Public Library Delphi
Public Library Logansport-Cass
County Public Library 5. WHEN WILL THE CURRENT STUDY BE COMPLETED? The project team anticipates completion of the study in summer 2004, as indicated by the schedule under the Projected Time Table side tab. The dates for final engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction have not been set. However, it usually takes three to five years to prepare plans, purchase right of way, and initiate construction. 6. IS MONEY AVAILABLE TO BUILD THE ROADWAY? The Hoosier Heartland Highway was identified by Congress as a High Priority Project by the TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) program, and it is also a high priority project for INDOT. $18.75 million in federal money was granted for work on the highway from Lafayette to Fort Wayne, Indiana. 7. WHICH SEGMENT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL BE BUILT FIRST? At this point in the study, it is difficult to predict which segment would be built first. One of the items INDOT will consider includes the availability of right-of-way and relocation of utilities. If the right-of-way at one end of the project has been acquired, while that at the other end has not, then construction on the segment having acquired right-of-way would move ahead. Also, building a segment with no logical connection to the existing system is less desirable than constructing a segment that has a connection to what exists and would immediately improve the traffic pattern and flow. Public opinion on this issue is also a factor in this decision. 8. I'VE HEARD THAT THE ROAD WILL BE AN EXPRESSWAY OR A FREEWAY. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE AND HOW WILL EACH AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY? The major difference between an expressway and a freeway is that a freeway has no access points other than at interchanges (usually spaced no closer than 1 to 3 miles apart). All roads that cross a freeway must be via overpass or underpass. An expressway can have at-grade intersections, usually with a traffic signal, and access at most US or state routes. Based on these criteria, the project will be designed as an expressway. After an alignment is chosen, INDOT will decide which roads will have direct access, and which will have to use either frontage roads or access the new road by means of those roads that do have access. Community input will be taken into consideration in making such decisions. In no case will resident or business driveways have direct access to the new road. 9. IF INDOT MUST ACQUIRE MY HOUSE, BUSINESS, OR FARM IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME, AND WHEN? Decisions on what property INDOT must acquire for right-of-way cannot be made at this time, as a final alignment has not been selected. However, at the end of this study, some preliminary engineering will begin and the project team will have a better idea of the actual road design and alignment. Once final engineering plans and road design are complete, property owners will be notified as soon as possible if their property must be acquired. Final engineering will not be complete for several years. INDOT offers a Relocation Assistance Program in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-646) as amended in 1987. Before acquiring right-of-way, all properties are appraised at fair market value by an appraiser who is familiar with the area. Then, owners are offered the appraised value by INDOT. If an owner declines this offer, he may have his own appraisal done and follow with a counter-offer to INDOT. If the two parties cannot agree on fair compensation, an eminent domain condemnation occurs and the issue goes to court. The court will determine fair compensation. No person will be required to move without written notice of the intended vacation date. Further, no occupant will be required to move until decent, safe, and sanitary replacement housing is made available. At least one relocation specialist will be assigned to this project to carry out the relocation assistance and payments program. 10. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC MEETINGS. HOW CAN MY OPINIONS BE HEARD? HOW CAN I OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION? Your thoughts and comments on the proposed SR 25 widening project are important. Public comments are a major factor considered in reaching a final decision, as is the input of other involved state and federal agencies. The SR 25 project web site (www.sr25study.com) contains information regarding project status, scheduled public hearings, mapping, etc. For your convenience, you can also submit questions, concerns, or comments through the web site's "Comments" page, or e-mail them to rwade@qk4.com. Mail written questions or comments to: 3317 Grantline Road, Suite 102, New Albany, IN 47150. Please note that the SR 25 web site is a dynamic site, meaning that it will periodically be updated with new information. We encourage frequent review of the site, and urge you to inform your friends and neighbors of its availability. 11. WHY WERE Qk4 (formerly known as Presnell) CREWS DOING SURVEY WORK AND PLACING SURVEY STAKES AND FLAGS FAR FROM THE PROPOSED PROJECT ROUTES? The Qk4 crews were performing normal survey activities for this type of construction project. The entire project study corridor was photographed from the air. The aerial photographs provide valuable information, such as natural and man-made features, and terrain topography. However, the photographs only provide a two-dimensional, or flat image. Frequently, the borders of the aerial photographs extend miles beyond the proposed project corridor. In order to establish the horizontal and vertical control points for mapping, the survey crews must work at the edge of the aerial photographs' boundaries. Consequently, you may frequently see the survey crews miles from any proposed alternate route as they establish control points for mapping. The control points are independent of any particular alternate route, but are necessary for the completion of the overall project. The survey stakes not do indicate a potential route, a preferred route, or a new route. The survey crews and stakes are part of the normal survey efforts required to maintain accurate control over the final route alignment.
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