Rhonda Oeding - Comments

I oppose the Mid-States Corridor. There is no proven economic development as a result of this road. The cost continues to escalate. The funding is not there. It is not economically feasible. There a other ways to improve traffic flow including improvements to passing lanes on US231 and improved intersections. These could be significantly less costly to the tax payers of Indiana. What happened to the commitment made by Governor Holcomb in 2021 to use $75 million for the passing lanes and intersection improvements? Polls have proven that over 80% of the county residents do not want our rural community destroyed by a new terrain highway, including farmland, forests and Legacy farms. Yet, we have unelected positions (RDA members) drive this project. Put this on a referendum and let the tax payers decide. The process used to get “public” input is skewed. The study group does extensive interviews for input with stakeholders who are business executives pushing for this to benefit their own company and when INDOT holds their public meetings it is more of a show and tell event with minimal public attendances and most that attend are against the project. The Tier 1 study started with the Purpose and Need was to improve safety and relieve congestion, which was not justified by the FHWA, so it was changed to improve business and personal regional connectivity in Dubois County and Southern Indiana and to improve highway connections to existing multi-modal locations in Southern Indiana. Then for the Tier 2 study the purpose and need were modified to provide improved system linkage from Dubois County to major business destinations and freight intermodal centers, improving employee access to Dubois County businesses, increasing the efficiency of freight operations, and completing Section 2 of the MSC. In others, they keep making any narrative to try to justify this project and none of it is valid. At one point the Purpose and Need was time travel saved but when it was challenged because their own data showed a 4-minute saving from Jasper to Indianapolis, if you notice, it is no longer in the Purpose and Need. However, they still are now throwing out numbers like 14-minute travel time saving through Dubois County. There is significant Impact to local residents – roads dead ended, re-routes to get access or cross the coordinator. Over 400 other safety-related road and bridge projects throughout the State of Indiana were canceled or indefinitely postponed due to lack of funds. The 3.4 Billion Dollars should be used to maintain and improve the infrastructure already in place. There is ZERO need for a new-terrain highway in Southern Indiana.