FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A: In May 2006, INDOT introduced the final, funded 10-year Major Moves highway plan. Annual new construction will quadruple during the program from $213 million in FY 2006 to $874 million in 2015. In addition to state highway projects, the counties where the Indiana Toll Road (ITR) is located will receive one-time payments of between $40 million and $120 million for local transportation projects. In 2006 and 2007, all 92 Indiana counties also will receive additional funds for their local transportation projects. The amount varies by county and is based on the Motor Vehicle Highway formula. The legislature also directed $500 million from the lease proceeds be dedicated to a Next Generation Fund to be used later for transportation projects.
On June 28, ITR's operations were transferred to Cintra-Maquarie (now known as the Indiana Toll Road Concession Company - ITRCC). ITRCC deposited $3.8 billion with Indiana in the largest public-private partnership agreement in the world. Interest on the money currently earns about $500,000 each day. ITRCC has also committed to completing at least $4 billion in improvements to the highway during the lease agreement.
Major Moves is praised as the "jobs bill of a generation" and is anticipated to employ tens of thousands of Hoosiers directly on highway projects and in industries that expand or locate new operations in the state. In July 2006, Honda Motor Company announced Greensburg would be the location of its newest plant. The $500 million plant will employ nearly 4,000 people. The company cited Indiana's commitment to infrastructure as one of the deciding factors in their decision. Additional information on Major Moves can be found at: http://www.in.gov/indot/7039.htm
Q: I received a notice-of-survey in the mail. What does this mean?
A: The Notice of Survey was sent to you as a courtesy notification that field work will be conducted in your area. The intent of the fieldwork is to identify and map known environmental resources in the project area. All necessary investigations will be conducted from the public right-of-way where possible. It may be necessary for our staff to enter your property for a specific purpose such as to identify a wetland resource. This is permitted by law under Indiana Code IC 8-23-7-26. All field staff will be wearing orange vests and have been instructed to identify themselves to you.
Q: How is right-of-way acquired by INDOT?
A: For information regarding the right of way acquisition process, please refer to the Acquisition pamphlet published by the Federal Highways Administration.
Q: What are my relocation benefits if my house or business must be removed from the new right-of-way?
A: Please refer to the Federal Highways Administration pamphlet entitled Relocation for information regarding relocation benefits available if your house or business must be removed.
Q: What is limited access right-of-way?
A: Right-of-way with limited access is just that, it controls the number and locations of access points along the roadway such as driveways and intersections. By controlling the access to U.S. 24 the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is effectively controlling where traffic can enter onto U.S. 24. Too many access points may result in more congestion and more development of adjacent lands.
Q: Has a noise study been completed for this project?
A: Yes, a noise analysis for the preferred alternative is summarized beginning on page 5-36 in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
Q: What coordination occurs between the State and the Local governmental agencies when projects are being planned?
A: At the inception of a project, INDOT carries out a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive statewide transportation planning process that provides for consideration and implementation of projects, strategies and services to promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and Local planned growth and economic development. The State will consider and may rely upon information, studies, or analyses provided by the Northeastern Indiana Regional Coordinating Council (NIRCC) which is designated as the local regional planning organization. Local and County governments provide valuable information to INDOT on adjacent projects and planned land uses. When the engineers begin writing the Engineering Assessment, one of the things they consider is the compatibility of the project with other construction projects proposed in the area at approximately the same time.
Q: How are environmental impacts associated with the project evaluated?
A: Some of the resources involved with the preparation of an Environmental Assessment are easily identified. For example, a wetland can be delineated per the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (Y-87-1). Impacts to Air Quality and Noise Analysis can be predicted using modeling programs.
Community involvement is essential in determining social impacts. The Community Impact Assessment (CIA) evaluates the effects of a transportation action on a community and its quality of life. A component of the CIA is the development of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) who assists the project team in identifying resources that are important to the community within the project area and provides recommendations on how to “best fit” the project into the fabric of the community while maintaining its cohesion.
Other impacts are identified through early coordination with regulatory agencies such as, but not limited to, the Environmental Protection Agency, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. These impacts are documented in the Environmental Assessment (EA), which is approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and INDOT. If appropriate, the FHWA will issue a Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the project if justified in the EA. If significant impacts are identified at any point in the development of the EA, the FHWA will elevate the project to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Q: Will there be any opportunities for the public to provide input on the project?
A: Yes. At least one public information meeting and a public hearing will be held at various points in the development of the Environmental Assessment. It will be at these functions that specific input will be solicited from the public. However, comments or questions about the project can be provided to INDOT at any time via the links on the Contact Us page.
Q: How will this project be paid for?
A: This project is being funded through Governor Mitch Daniels' Major Moves initiative.
