Holcomb: No tolls for I-70 or any more Indiana roads

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb will not move forward with a proposal to toll Indiana's interstates -- including the possibility of making the entire width of Putnam County along Interstate 70 part of a toll proposal from the Illinois state line to I-465.

But Holcomb says he's still leaving the door open for tolling in the future.

The governor Thursday sent a letter to members of the Budget Committee with a strategic tolling plan developed by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). The study was done in accordance with House Enrolled Act 1002.

Tolling became possible in 2017 when the General Assembly tasked INDOT with looking into tolling as a possible way to fund major interstate improvements, such as widening I-65 and I-70 outside of I-465 to at least six lanes, border-to-border.

The state was considering five corridors for tolling: I-94 from Illinois to Michigan; I-65 in the northern part of the state from I-90 south to I-465 and then south from I-465 to the Ohio River; I-70 from the Illinois state line to I-465, then from I-465 on the east side to the Ohio state line.

It also considered tolling in the Indianapolis metro area, although Gov. Holcomb later said the I-465 loops, for him, were never a consideration.

In his letter, Holcomb said for now, the state appears to be in good shape regarding infrastructure spending resources. He pointed to the almost $800 million approved in October to be spent on new road construction and maintenance in the coming years.

As a result, he said he won't proceed with a tolling plan.

It's possible the state may want to revisit INDOT's report in the future, he said, because revenue projections could always fluctuate and the state "must continue to analyze innovative funding methods" down the road.

"I have directed INDOT to continue to assess all funding options and other mobility improvements that would modernize our interstate highways, including participation in federal programs that enable us to preserve the option for interstate tolling capability in the future," Holcomb wrote.

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) responded to Gov. Holcomb's announcement by saying, "Infrastructure funding is critical to our economy and the quality of life for Hoosiers. At the Statehouse, lawmakers know how important it is to fund our roads both now and in the future, which is why we recently passed a 20-year road funding plan that addresses our current and future needs.

"I'm grateful for the time and effort that went into compiling this report," the District 37 state senator who represents the southern half of Putnam County said, "and I agree with the governor's position that tolling is not something we need to pursue."