The Indiana Department of Transportation recently issued a total of $101 million worth of state matching funds to 241 Indiana cities, towns, and counties for local road projects through its Community Crossings program.
[Above photo by the Indiana DOT.]
That program is part of the state’s Next Level Roads program, which is a 20-year plan established in 2017 to enhance Indiana’s highways and local roads by awarding communities grants for “shovel-ready” local road construction projects.
This is the third round of Community Crossing grants for 2020, with the Indiana DOT issuing $68 million in such grants in September and $126.5 million worth of grants in April.
“As we navigate through the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re as committed as ever to improving and building our state’s infrastructure,” noted Governor Eric Holcomb (R) in a statement. “I’m incredibly pleased that we’re able to fund all of the high-priority local road projects submitted in this round. Taking care of our local roads is key to making sure our communities remain attractive places to grow businesses and create careers.”
In response to revenue uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indiana DOT moved its most recent “call for projects” for Community Crossing grants from July to September.
The program’s $101 million award is funded by the balance available in the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund at the end of the 2020 fiscal year as well as revenue collected so far in the 2021 fiscal year, the agency added.
“This is a tremendous win for our local partners,” added Joe McGuinness, Indiana DOT’s commissioner. “Our continued partnership with Hoosier communities will deliver more high priority local road projects in the coming year, many of which have been in planning for months or even years and wouldn’t be able to move forward now without the state’s funding commitment.”
To qualify for funding via the agency’s Community Crossing program, local governments must provide local matching funds – 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities – from a funding source approved for road and bridge construction.
They must also submit an Indiana DOT-approved asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges. State law also requires that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer every year.
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