Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on April 7, 2011, at 1:00 p.m., at the Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Conference Center Room 22, Indianapolis, Indiana, the Indiana Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on a new rule amending 105 IAC to permit the department to collect tolls on the Wabash Bridge in Posey County, Indiana, and to set the toll schedule and procedures regarding the administration and collection of tolls.

The proposed rule adds 105 IAC 15 to permit the department to collect tolls on the Wabash Memorial Toll Bridge in Posey County, Indiana (the "Bridge"), and sets the toll schedule and procedures regarding the administration and collection of tolls. By order of the Governor and pursuant to IC 8-16-1, ownership of the Bridge shall be transferred from the Indiana Finance Authority to the department upon promulgation of this rule. Tolls on the Bridge are currently collected by the Indiana Finance Authority with the assistance of the department, and toll revenue is transferred to the department to cover costs of maintenance and operation of the Bridge. The proposed rule is substantially similar to 135 IAC 3-1-1, and the toll schedule for individual vehicles remains the same in the proposed rule. As a result, the only additional requirement or cost that would be imposed on users of the Bridge under this rule is through the removal of the discounted toll rate offered under 135 IAC 3-2-2 with the sale of the commutation books. The removal of the discount will result in former purchasers of the commutation books paying the normal toll rate of fifty cents ($.50) per trip, an additional ten cents ($.10) per trip over the discounted rate. The total impact to all users (including small businesses) from cessation of the sale of commutation books is anticipated to be only $36,000 per year. As the toll rate has not increased since 1987 and is not increasing under this rule, the department believes the modest cost imposed as a result of elimination of the discounted commutation books is justified. Further, this rule will enable the department to use the proceeds collected from tolling (after subtraction of costs of maintenance and operation of the Bridge) to fund the replacement of the Bridge, which will be required in approximately 25 years.

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N758 and Legislative Services Agency, Indiana Government Center North, Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.