A bill that would allow Indy to receive $50 million in additional state road funding is slated to become law.
The Indiana House and Senate both agreed this week on changes made to House Bill 1461, which will allow Indianapolis to access the money so long as it provides new funds to match that dollar amount.
The Hogsett administration will have access to the funds, which can only be used for construction and reconstruction of local streets, beginning in 2027.
Mayor Joe Hogsett, a Democrat, told Mirror Indy in a statement that the legislation represents “the most significant new investment from the state of Indiana into Indianapolis road infrastructure in decades.”
In his statement, Hogsett praised House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, and Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray, R-Martinsville, for working with the city.
“I have long advocated for a more economic reallocation of the transportation taxes already paid by Hoosiers,” the statement read, in part. “I believe cities and counties with more lane miles should receive more funding because lane miles are tied to the traffic in a community. This bill moves closer to that idea.”
The state’s road funding formula doesn’t take into account the number of lanes on a road, which favors rural areas with fewer lanes of traffic.
It’s unclear how the city will come up with the matching funds. The legislation also allows Marion County to raise its wheel tax and vehicle excise tax, though Hogsett has declined to say whether he’ll go that route.
The bill also ensures that any unspent money in the Community Crossings grant program would be allocated to every Indiana county and city based on total lane mileage — a move that favors urban areas.
The legislation was also amended to increase the speed limits on Interstate 465 from 55 mph to 65 mph.
Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.
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