Annette Buse - Comments

I strongly oppose the proposed Mid-States Corridor because it is an unnecessary, fiscally irresponsible project that lacks a demonstrated public need while threatening the farmland, forests, legacy farms, and rural communities of Southern Indiana. Throughout the planning process, the project's justification has repeatedly shifted. The original Tier 1 Purpose and Need focused on improving safety and relieving congestion. After the Federal Highway Administration determined those needs were not adequately supported, the narrative shifted to improving regional connectivity and economic development. In the Tier 2 study, it changed again to emphasize business access, freight efficiency, employee access, and completion of the corridor. These continual revisions suggest an effort to justify a predetermined project rather than respond to documented transportation needs. Several claims supporting the project are unsupported or misleading. Travel time savings were initially promoted, but when project data showed only about a four-minute reduction between Jasper and Indianapolis, that justification was removed. The project now cites travel time savings through Dubois County without providing transparent supporting analysis. Likewise, claims that the corridor will remove 1,700 semi-trucks per day from U.S. 231 have not been supported with publicly available studies and appear to represent projections for 2050 rather than current conditions. Independent local traffic counts over a two-week period recorded no more than approximately 660 trucks per day. Project costs have escalated dramatically—from approximately $1.1 billion for the entire 54-mile corridor using 2020 estimates to approximately $1.1 billion for the Dubois County section alone using 2024 estimates. The full corridor is now estimated at roughly $3.4 billion before land acquisition. At the same time, more than 400 safety-related road and bridge projects across Indiana have been canceled or indefinitely postponed because of limited funding. Those taxpayer dollars should be directed toward maintaining and improving existing infrastructure instead of constructing an unnecessary new-terrain highway. Existing studies have not identified significant congestion or safety problems requiring a new highway. More practical and cost-effective alternatives exist, including additional passing lanes on U.S. 231, intersection improvements, and targeted upgrades to existing roadways. These improvements would enhance safety and traffic flow while preserving the rural landscape. The proposed corridor would permanently divide farms, forests, and family properties, dead-end local roads, require lengthy reroutes for residents, and fundamentally alter the character of our communities. Public polling has consistently shown that more than 80 percent of Dubois County residents oppose construction of a new-terrain highway. The public involvement process has also been deeply flawed. Input has been heavily weighted toward business stakeholders who stand to benefit from the project, while public meetings have largely served as informational presentations rather than meaningful opportunities for dialogue. Most citizens who have participated have expressed opposition, yet those concerns have not been adequately reflected in the decision-making process. The Mid-States Corridor has failed to demonstrate a legitimate transportation need, proven economic benefit, or responsible use of taxpayer funds. Indiana should prioritize maintaining existing roads and bridges and investing in targeted, lower-cost improvements that address documented transportation needs. Moving forward with this project would be an unnecessary expenditure of billions of taxpayer dollars and an indefensible example of fiscal irresponsibility. Taxpaying citizens deserve better representation from elected officials and appointed leaders!