Indiana Trucking Group Backs Higher-Tolls Plan

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he Indiana Motor Truck Association’s executive committee has voted unanimously to support Gov. Mitch Daniels’ (R) plan for highway funding, American Trucking Associations said Thursday.

The Tuesday vote followed a presentation by Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Sharp who stated the “Major Moves” program would fund $2.8 billion of new highway construction during the next 10 years, without a fuel tax increase.

Trucking companies had initially reacted skeptically to the proposal to as much as double tolls on the state’s roads. (Click here for previous coverage.)

The program, if passed by the General Assembly, would allow the Indiana toll road to be leased by private-sector investors who would pay upfront an estimated two billion dollars.

The legislation would also allow the construction of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville as a public-private partnership. I-69 construction is planned to begin in 2008 and will be operated as a toll road, ATA said in a note to its members.