Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb and INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness on Wednesday announced the next call for projects in the Community Crossings grant program will open Friday, Sept. 25.
Community Crossings is part of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Roads program, a 20-year, fully funded plan to enhance Indiana’s highways and local roads by awarding communities grants for shovel-ready local road construction projects.
“Supporting local communities by investing in transportation infrastructure is vital as we get Indiana back on track in the face of COVID-19,” Holcomb said. “I’m pleased that we’re advancing the Community Crossings program at this time to partner with cities, towns and counties to deliver on needed projects and provide a boost to local job creators.”
Projects that are eligible for funding through Community Crossings include road resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation, road reconstruction, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance in connection with road projects. Material costs for chip sealing and crack filling operations are also eligible for funds.
Projects submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation for funding will be evaluated based on need, traffic volume, local support, the impact on connectivity and mobility within the community, and regional economic significance.
This call for projects, originally slated for July, was postponed to this fall due to revenue uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency. The call will make approximately $68 million in state matching funds available for local projects. This funding amount combines existing revenue available in the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund and anticipated revenues during the first three months of the state’s 2021 fiscal year. Following this rescheduled call for projects, the state plans to hold the next call in January 2021.
“As the Governor has emphasized throughout the COVID-19 fight, we’re all in this together and that includes the state and local communities partnering to get things done,” McGuinness said. “Moving forward with this call for projects ensures that local officials can keep their commitments to improving roads and bridges in every corner of Indiana.”
Community Crossings is open to all local government units in the Indiana.
- Cities and towns with a population of fewer than 10,000 will receive funds using a 75/25 match.
- Cities and towns with a population of greater than 10,000 will receive funds using a 50/50 match.
- Counties with a population of fewer than 50,000 will receive funds using a 75/25 match.
- Counties with a population of greater than 50,000 will receive funds using a 50/50 match.
Over the last four years, the state has awarded more than $730 million in matching funds to support local road and bridge projects around Indiana. Long-term funding for Community Crossings is part of House Enrolled Act 1002, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in April 2017.
All application materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23. Communities receiving funding for projects will be notified by INDOT later this fall.
For more information on Community Crossings, visit in.gov/indot/communitycrossings.