Toll Road money winds its way south

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BY KEITH BENMAN
kbenman@nwitimes.com
219.933.3326 | Friday, September 21, 2007 | (27 comment(s))

Northwest Indiana elected officials on Thursday swallowed the hard truth that much of the $3.8 billion from the Indiana Toll Road lease is already winding its way southward, paying for major highway projects around the state.

Indiana Commissioner of Transportation Karl Browning told a meeting of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission that the Interstate 69 expansion, from Evansville to Crane, and the Hoosier Heartland, from Lafayette to Logansport, have been made possible by the Toll Road lease.

With respective price tags of $700 million and $450 million, those are two of the biggest ticket items in the Major Moves inventory. Before the Toll Road lease was born, state officials said those projects could not be funded.

"I hear as I go throughout this state that we have this great big bucket of money and should be sharing it otherwise than we are," Browning said.

But Major Moves represents a firm commitment of where and how $12 billion in highway funds will be spent, including in Northwest Indiana, said Browning, with the aid of graphics showing just how Major Moves money is spent.

Browning's response on the Hoosier Heartland and I-69 projects came in response to questions from Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub and Porter County Commissioner Robert Harper.

NIRPC is made up of 51 representatives from local governments across Northwest Indiana.

Browning gave frank answers Thursday. At one point he told his listeners they could object if they wanted, but he was still going to tick off the benefits of the Toll Road lease.

Those include private operator ITR Concession Co.'s $40 million investment in electronic tolling and $250 million in roadway improvements, both of which are still underway.

Elected officials wanted to know about current issues with the Toll Road and its private operator.

"If you're not paying prevailing wage on the Toll Road ... what good is it to local communities?" asked LaPorte County Council member Jerry Cooley.

ITR Concession is currently in discussions with labor unions about the prevailing wage issue, Browning said. However, he noted the Toll Road's operator does not fall under the same regulations as the state when it comes to wages.

"Our agreement with the Toll Road doesn't let us say, 'This is what you must do,' " Browning said.

Highland Town Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin wanted to know how long the state will continue to pay for the commuter discount on the Indiana Toll Road given to those using electronic tolling.

Browning said that could go on for up to 10 years, and technically those payments to ITR Concession Co. are made by the Indiana Finance Authority. State officials have estimated it could cost $250 million, which will come out of lease proceeds.

The commissioner also clarified that although the Cintra-Macquarie consortium paid $3.8 billion for the 75-year lease, only about $2.6 billion went to Major Moves because of set-asides like that for the toll discount

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To...'just part of Bush NAFTA superhighway' wrote on Sep 26, 2007 9:30 AM:

" Get it straight. NAFATA was approved under the Clinton administration. "

Jim wrote on Sep 26, 2007 4:22 AM:

" The whole idea of privatizing is to get around prevailing wages and benefits. When Chicago schools privatized the janitors, they would work for a year before getting any benefits, only to find that the company name on the paycheck changed, making them new employees again. the only people benefitting is the politically connected contractors. "

IndyRN wrote on Sep 25, 2007 9:16 PM:

" Hey, Buzz Doubt, I moved to Indy 10 years ago - after having lived in Lake County for 48 years. It was a very good decision and, if I didn't still have family and friends in da Region, I would never come back. What's there to come back for? The filth? The gangs? The corrupt politicians who fill their pockets instead of looking out for their constituents? The people in Lake County almost seem proud of their - wink wink, nod nod - unorthadox politics, but those politics aren't going to get the people of Lake County a bigger piece of the pie. The "Indy ol' boy network" does very well for the people of Marion County. Maybe your bent politicians should take a lesson from the 'ol boys in Indy. "

When the state owned the toll road the money headed south anyway wrote on Sep 25, 2007 4:07 PM:

" stop crying when the state owned the toll road the money they collected didn't stay in the north counties it went south also-its just you cry babies didn't bother to look into it-just like your buddy Billy Cliton who signed NAFTA and screwed all you union Democrates and now even that is Bushes Fault-get a brain and a life. "

You can't trust Daniels! wrote on Sep 25, 2007 10:28 AM:

" Do you expect anything else from Daniels? Anyone that voted for him shouldn't be here complaining about this $. "

Did McDermott Sr. Receive a "Finder's Fee"? wrote on Sep 24, 2007 11:47 AM:

" Or perhaps junior got his palm greased this time? "

just part of bush nafta superhighway wrote on Sep 23, 2007 10:46 PM:

" this is just part of bush plan to send more jobs out of the country. eliminate more union jobs and make more money for the super rich!!Wasn't Mitch the in bush administration and said it would only cost 20 billion to invade Iraq? This is just part of the plan to let Mexican truckers run freely from Texas border to Canada. The only ones that will lose will be the taxpayers in the long run!!!Ditch mitch!!! www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=15497 "

Terri wrote on Sep 23, 2007 10:02 AM:

" Now you see what's going on up here and yet THEY are trying to ram rod this Intermodal rail facility down our throats. We all know that with the Intermodal comes the Illiana Toll Road (the trucking companies won't support through use). Hey NWI, we need more support to railroad the Intermodal out of our neck of the woods (Laporte County). As we can see from the lowered wages on the existing toll road, this intermodal won't bring decent paying jobs to Laporte County. I'm formerly from Lake County (born n raised) and I knew that Daniels was going to screw NWI from the beginning. That guy needs to be voted out but the die hards down there in Indy will vote him right back in. And to the person who said to take our country back (mentioning the Boston Tea Party), I couldn't agree with you more. This whole government IS NOT working for the people... these politicians are out for themselves and how much they can put into their own pockets and don't give a rat's patooty about the average taxpayer. We're being taxed right out of our homes.. WAKE UP INDIANA!!!! "

TSD wrote on Sep 21, 2007 7:11 PM:

" It is time to take back our nation,states,jobs,and all concearning our wellbeing.I have said it time and time again!"It only took a handful of good men to toss the tea off the ship in the Boston Harbor!"Do we have any more good men left to join me!Now is the time for all good men to come to aid of their party!!!! "

When the state owned the toll road that money too went south wrote on Sep 21, 2007 4:17 PM:

" Hey cry babies-how dumb are you. When the state owned the road -how much money went south? the same amount if not more! "

Former Region Rat wrote on Sep 21, 2007 4:15 PM:

" I grew up in Lake County all my life, and moved to Indy two years ago. I remembered being in awww of Indy's highway system. Maybe if Lake County combines all their towns and call it one city (like Indy/marion county) and then steal roads from other parts of the state, then Lake County can have a really nice highway system too. I really don't think politics have anything to do with this, face it. The region wants nothing to do with Indiana, and Indiana wants nothing to do with the region. p.s Now Im paying for an unnecessary football stadium. GO BEARS!!! "

Demand More From Our Government - They're OUR EMPLOYEES wrote on Sep 21, 2007 3:57 PM:

" Got your attention? Good. I believe we need to demand more out of ALL of our elected officials. In this case, you can not point fingers at the Dems or Reps. Why don't we expect more? They are politicians, not accountants. Perhaps we should demand that only CPAs or attorneys have the right to become an elected official. Seriously, what do these people know about finances. Corporations and other organizations require their board members to have EXTENSIVE financial background. What type of background do our officials have? "

s . e. wrote on Sep 21, 2007 2:54 PM:

" why would you even want to give money to these nwi crooked politicians in the first place,,,,,oh I know so you could have something to complain when they steal it too.... "

anti-Mitch wrote on Sep 21, 2007 2:20 PM:

" Duh...like we didn't know this already? Why print this story now? We got screwed, plain and simple. "

Flush them all away...... wrote on Sep 21, 2007 1:56 PM:

" Time to wake up kids. NWI will forever be the proverbial red-headed stepchild to Mitch and the boys. Election Day results in NWI weren’t exactly pro-mitch, so he’s not exactly pro-nwi. Pay back stinks. He sure didn’t get my vote. Our NWI congressional representation, in general, also stinks. Wouldn't it be great if politicians didn't receive any pay or benefits? Maybe we'd actually have people in congress who cared about the general population instead of their greedy little selves. "

Joker wrote on Sep 21, 2007 1:55 PM:

" I'm sure any of the money that ACTUALLY DID made a stop in NW Indiana only made it as far as the plain manilla envelope on some politicians desk... "

Jerry wrote on Sep 21, 2007 12:48 PM:

" This is no surprise. NWI always gets screwed. We are treated like the bastard at the family reunion. It's the fault of the GOP not the Democrats since the GOP is in charge of the state. "

Hammond could have went after some cash but, wrote on Sep 21, 2007 10:15 AM:

" No body's daddy was going to get a finder's fee, right Tommy? "

Outraged wrote on Sep 21, 2007 10:03 AM:

" I guess we now know why Lake and Porter counties cannot aford the South Shore Expansion without the residents here paying for it...just another fine example of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing...while putting funds in our politians pockets... "

repete wrote on Sep 21, 2007 9:48 AM:

" Oh boy-big surprise! Nice to know the state (read-you and I) will continue to pay for the commuter discount on the Indiana Toll Road given to those using electronic tolling for up to 10 years. I wish everyone quit using the Toll Road for at least one day to send a message to these idiots! "

Former Regionite wrote on Sep 21, 2007 9:45 AM:

" Stop complaining! Your Democrat legislators failed to increase tolls for more than 20 YEARS while promising to build new roads without any funding. At least now you're getting something where before you had NOTHING! And if you ever get the guts to remove all your corrupt politicians and bureaucrats from office you'll get more. "

Diana wrote on Sep 21, 2007 9:23 AM:

" So everyone screamed that something wasn't right with this sale .....once they found out and were unable to stop it or get specific details. Now that ugly truth is coming out, does this mean our Governor and State Representatives all lied or are just stupid? I, for one, am tired of the double talk, lying, cutbacks and ever increasing taxes in Indiana. I am ashamed of my representation and as long as the 'good ol boy' network in is place here in Indiana, there will be no improvements in our way of life. My family and I have decided enough is enough and are moving out of state before we become destitute paying all the taxes. Excise, wheel, state (soon to be increased), ever increasing cigarette, property, sales (also trying to shoot for an increase, real estate..... "

Joe1 wrote on Sep 21, 2007 8:56 AM:

" I think we need to turn all the freeways down south into toll roads. Then we'll see how they like it. They should have raised the gas tax to pay for the improvements if they were even needed. That would have been a lot more equitable. Instead, we get to pay for it all. I wouldn't hold your breath on Mitch getting voted out. Bush was elected twice (as far as we know). Never understimate the stupidity of the electorate. "

Southside Johnny wrote on Sep 21, 2007 8:37 AM:

" Good to see nothing's changed in Indiana...take the assets from the North and spread then around Indianapolis, and then deny any funds to the North when they need the help. It's not Mitch's fault, it's been this way forever. "

nwi girl wrote on Sep 21, 2007 8:18 AM:

" Don't blame Mitch. Blame our all the democrats up here who fought against Major Moves instead of lobbying to get money. It isn't his fault that our elected representatives are idiots who voted against the inevitable instead of working to get things done up here. "

Buzz Doubt wrote on Sep 21, 2007 5:57 AM:

" Just like Schererville can't get $12M for a project while Our Man Mitch gives his buddy the Mayor Of Carmel $90M for road improvements there. Indy benefits at our expense. Big surprise there. Anyone within 5 counties of the Tollroad that votes for Mitch Daniels needs to leave this area and go to live in Indy. Our local Reps need to start screaming about this too. Of course, if they do the Indy "ol' boy network" (the only bi-partisan establishment working in the state) won't give us any money. "

Doug wrote on Sep 21, 2007 5:42 AM:

" Thanks Mitch! Do you even know there is a NWI? You will come election time. "

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