Three Johnson County communities received nearly $2 million in Community Crossings grants from the Indiana Department of Transportation for road projects.
Edinburgh, Franklin and New Whiteland were among 224 cities, towns, and counties from across the state to receive state matching funds for local road projects through Community Crossings. INDOT awarded about$107.8 million during the first grant award cycle of this year. The next funding cycle will begin in July, according to an INDOT news release.
Franklin received the highest amount of the Johnson County communities: $1 million. The funds will used be to mill and overlay 18 city streets that received low pavement ratings in a survey of city road conditions. The highest priority streets in Franklin include Bartram Parkway, County Road 200 North, Commerce Drive, Hospital Road and South Street, according to city documents.
New Whiteland’s $522,750 in funds will be used to reconstruct two road segments in the Raintree subdivision on the town’s northwest side: Windemere Road and Winthrop Road, said Duane McCauslin, public works superintendent.
Edinburgh received $471, 903, which will be used toward the town’s 2022 paving projects. The projects include portions of Campbell Street, Grant Street, Huff Street, Main Street, Thompson Street and Toner Street inside the town’s limits, said Dan Cartwright, town manager.
Since Community Crossings launched in 2016, the initiative has provided more than $1 billion in state matching funds for local construction projects. The funding comes from the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund. Long-term funding for Community Crossings was identified by state lawmakers in 2017 and was signed into law by Holcomb that April, according to the news release.
“Our fully-funded roads plan was designed to avoid passing a burden of debt onto the next generation of Hoosiers, and it is succeeding. The funding is critical to moving ahead on projects our local communities need to improve their roads, bridges and other related infrastructure. These funds have helped communities in our area both large and small,” State Rep. John Young, R-Franklin, said in a statement.
The program improves the safety and reliability of local roads while enhancing connectivity across the state. INDOT is excited to join and work with local partners on the projects in the months ahead, INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith said in a statement. By investing in Community Crossings, the state will continue to maintain its reputation as the Crossroads of America, State Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, said in a statement.
“Maintaining our local infrastructure is vital to our community’s economy and quality of life, and this money will help Johnson County make critical investments for the future,” Davis said.
The enhancement and modernization of Indiana’s transportation infrastructure are critical to the economic success in and around Indiana communities, along with the prosperity of Hoosiers. The grant program makes immediate impacts on improving roads and bridges, Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement.
“Those improvements translate to a safe, reliable, robust transportation infrastructure that benefits residents and business in every corner of our state and every place in between,” Holcomb said.
Communities from across the state submitted applications for funding in January. Applications were evaluated based on need and current conditions, along with effects on safety and economic development, according to INDOT.
In order to qualify for funding, local governments have to provide local matching funds of 50% for larger communities, or 25% for smaller communities and have an asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges. Under Indiana law, 50% of the available matching funds have to be awarded to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer annually, the news release says.
