Indiana recently awarded more than $2.7 million in state matching grants to local communities for road and bridge improvements, according to Hamilton County lawmakers.
House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) said through the Community Crossings Matching Grant program, 218 Hoosier cities, towns and counties received a combined total of over $100 million.
Cook
Huston
“Indiana is on a roll with its continued investment in critical infrastructure, which spurs economic development and job creation,” Huston said. “These investments help our local communities take care of our roads and bridges, and prepare for future growth.”
This program was established in 2016 and expanded a year later in 2017 through laws State Rep. Tony Cook (R-Cicero) and other local lawmakers supported.
“Our roads are an integral part of our state’s infrastructure, with Hoosiers using them every single day to travel to work, school or visit loved ones,” Cook said. “We must take steps to keep up with maintenance, and these dollars can help local communities continue this much-needed investment.”
The Indiana Department of Transportation oversees and distributes these grants twice each year, according to State Rep. Chuck Goodrich (R-Noblesville).
Goodrich
“When it comes to doing business, having solid roadways and bridges is a vital resource for employers moving to Indiana to establish and expand their operations,” Goodrich said. “However, keeping up with repairs is costly and sometimes pushed back. This additional funding provides our local cities and towns with money for projects they would not have been able to pay for on their own.”
Hamilton County received $715,452 for local road and bridge projects. In addition, the following communities were awarded a grant:
- Westfield: $1 million
- Atlanta: $338,643
- Noblesville: $313,973;
- Arcadia: $191,524
- Sheridan: $155,297
Schaibley
State Rep. Donna Schaibley (R-Carmel) said communities can use these funds for road and bridge preservation, road reconstruction, intersection improvements, guardrail replacements and signage.
“I’ve noticed the completion of construction projects in our area has helped shave minutes off my commute,” Schaibley said. “There is no doubt these projects help improve the quality of life for drivers who use our roadways every day to travel to work, run their kids to school or operate their business.”
Smaller municipalities must provide a 25 percent match in local funds, while large communities must provide a 50 percent match, according to State Rep. Chris Jeter (R-Carmel).
“Almost all of us know the sinking feeling we get when we hit a pot hole and hope it doesn’t give us a flat tire or damage our vehicles,” Jeter said. “These important road repairs help maintain the lifespan of our infrastructure and improve the overall quality of life for Hoosiers no matter what size community they live in.”
Torr
Jeter
State Rep. Jerry Torr (R-Carmel) said more than $931 million in total has been awarded throughout the state since 2016.
“This is one of the many strategic investments our state is making in our infrastructure to ensure it stands the test of time and continues to be a valuable resource for both Hoosiers and visitors,” Torr said. “Our roads connect communities to one another, and we must continue our focused effort to keep up with ongoing maintenance.”
State law requires that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded annually to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer.
More information about the program and recipients can be found online at in.gov/indot/communitycrossings. The next call for projects through Community Crossings will open in July 2021.