Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett listens to INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness speak before presenting local communities with Community Crossing Grants on Wednesday at The Garment Factory in Franklin.
SCOTT ROBERSON | DAILY JOURNAL
State and local officials converged on Franklin Wednesday to present more than $100 million in grants to more than 200 communities around the state.
The Indiana Department of Transportation awarded $101.9 million in Community Crossings Matching Grants to 218 counties, cities and towns across the state, including nearly $3 million to Johnson County communities.
Bargersville received $999,000 to help pay for milling and overlay work on sections of 25 streets in neighborhoods throughout the town, said Julie Young, town manager.
Edinburgh will use its $883,621 to fully reconstruct High School Drive, from U.S. 31 to Eisenhower Drive, said Dan Cartwright, town manager. The project includes sidewalks, utility infrastructure and lighting for one of the main gateways into town, he said.
The county received $500,867 to continue its repair work in older subdivisions with crumbling concrete streets in White River Township, said Luke Mastin, county highway director.
Franklin previously received $1 million, but sent $248,140 back to the state because the projects included in the city’s application came in under the engineer’s estimate, said Mark Richards, city engineer. Now, the state re-awarded that $248,140 to the city for the second phase of the Jim Black Road project, directly north of the section that was completed earlier this year to McClain Drive, he said.
Prince’s Lakes will use its $209,581 to repave sections of 13 streets, said Arec Burton, the town’s street superintendent.
Trafalgar will use its $118,500 for road improvements on Park Street and in the Crestridge Estates subdivision, said Donna Moore, clerk-treasurer.
Between this year’s two grant cycles, local communities received $6 million. Greenwood, Whiteland and New Whiteland were awarded grants in January, along with Franklin’s initial award.
Since 2016, the matching grant program has provided more than $1 billion in state funds for local road and bridge construction projects. Local governments pledge to pay 25 to 50% of construction costs, depending on their population.
Before the check presentations Wednesday, Gov. Eric Holcomb, INDOT Commissioner and former Franklin mayor Joe McGuinness and Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett talked about what the grant program means to communities.
McGuinness, who was mayor when Community Crossings first started in 2016, said the grant program has had a big impact on Franklin.
One of the first projects Franklin completed with support from the state was a reconstruction of Wayne Street, which he said paved the way for the redevelopment of The Garment Factory, where the check presentation was held.
“Wayne Street, before 2016, was just like any other small-town road that hadn’t seen a lot of attention in a number of years,” McGuinness said. “And because it was the first year of Community Crossings we did receive $1 million and about $350,000 or $400,000 went to prepare for this facility right here.”
The impact of the grant program since its inception can be seen throughout the city, Barnett said.
“Franklin has 120 miles of roadway, and with these funds, we have been able to repave about 20 miles,” Barnett said. “These roads are in economic development areas and residential areas and have encouraged new businesses to relocate and current businesses to expand. In addition, our homeowners are taking pride in their homes and our residential areas. This program makes an impressive impact on our community.”
Holcomb touted Community Crossings as a success, and said the program has been updated along the way with feedback from the very communities it aids. In its current form, it provides continuity and a cyclical chance to bring extra funds to cities and towns across the state, he said.
“The program and the policy is the perfect partnership between the state and communities working together in unison, harmoniously to build quality of place and a better quality of life,” Holcomb said. “We are doing this from East Chicago to West Baden, from South Bend to North Vernon, and right here in Franklin.”
While national efforts to fund infrastructure are tied up in partisan fights, Indiana has cracked the code, McGuinness said.
“One of the things that I’m most proud of, especially as INDOT commissioner, is the lead that Indiana is taking on infrastructure,” he said. “Our friends, partners and some others out in (Washington) D.C. are still arguing about how to pay for infrastructure, but we’ve figured that out.”
