Recent news items about U.S. 31 and the Coalition

U.S. 31 project touted on Web
 "The U.S. 31 project now intersects with the virtual superhighway.  The Indiana Department of Transportation has launched a Web site detailing the rebuilding of U.S. 31 between South Bend and Plymouth, the agency announced Thursday. The site -- www.us31plysb.com -- contains maps, construction timelines and other information....John Letherman, president of the U.S. 31 Coalition that has long lobbied for the project, said the Web site is a sign of progress.  'I think things are starting to happen now,' said Letherman, who also is president of the Elkhart County Council."  See the full article at http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?ID=419195
Move up U.S. 31 work, coalition head says: Leader asks state to begin project before 2011 scheduled start
"A key player in the effort to expand U.S. 31 told Westfield business leaders Thursday that he is still pressing state officials to start revamping the highway through Hamilton County sooner than scheduled.  As it stands now, the Indiana Department of Transportation has work on U.S. 31 through Hamilton County slated for 2011.  But Dennis Faulkenberg, executive director of the U.S. 31 Coalition, told members of the Westfield Washington Chamber of Commerce his group has been pressing INDOT to start the project sooner."  See full article at http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070721/LOCAL/707210374

Big bucks for U.S. 31 plan 

"The U.S. 31 improvement project is getting an enviable amount of money from the state and supporters must see the work through to completion, the project's chief lobbyist told Elkhart County commissioners Monday.  The state's leasing of the Indiana Toll Road will provide $1.1 billion to rebuild parts of U.S. 31 into a freeway between South Bend and Indianapolis, said Dennis Faulkenberg, executive director of the U.S. 31 Coalition, an organization backed by many communities along the highway.  'We got by far the most money of any project in Indiana,' he said. ...'Our project was rated one of the highest in the state,' Faulkenberg, a former INDOT official, said later."  See full article at http://www.etruth.com/News/NewsStory.aspx?id=416518

More roads, and soon

"Among the department's top priorities in North Central Indiana is a new U.S. 31 that would run stoplight-free from the U.S. 20 Bypass to Indianapolis.  Mike Monahan, director of INDOT's LaPorte district, said construction on a phase of that project from the bypass to U.S. 30 is scheduled to start in the fall of 2008.  John Letherman, Elkhart County Council member and president of the U.S. 31 Coalition, said that with more than 53 percent of the county's jobs in manufacturing and an expansion of distribution centers for big-box retailers, expanding routes to the county is vital.  'What it means is gridlock if we don't get our act together,' Letherman said. 'Cities, counties and the state have to keep these partnerships going.'  See full article at http://www.etruth.com/News/NewsStory.aspx?id=413032

Official: Toll Road funds need to be protected

"Indiana’s new state highway commissioner called himself a rookie, but told northern Indiana business and elected officials Tuesday that they have to help protect the Major Moves Toll Road lease funds from being spent by the General Assembly.  'If they do that, it will have an impact on what we have for construction,' Karl Browning said Tuesday during his visit of Elkhart County. 'There is no guarantee that the money will be untouched. You have to help protect it.'   See the full article at http://www.goshennews.com/local/local_story_164103422.html?keyword=topstory

Firm picked to design limits into U.S. 31

"For years, the Indiana Department of Transportation has planned to eliminate traffic signals on the highway in Carmel and Westfield.  Last month, the state selected Indianapolis-based RW Armstrong to handle the design of the project...As the design of the Hamilton County segment moves forward, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard said he plans to lobby against constructing traditional highway interchanges."  See the full article at http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007306130010

Bid for new road to U.S. 31 supported

"Efforts to construct a new Marshall County road to connect with U.S. 31 received support from the U.S. 31 Coalition last week."  See the full article at http://www.thepilotnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3516&Itemid=27

U.S. 31 bypass gets green light: Lt. Gov. Skillman on hand for announcement

"It probably wasn’t a coincidence that Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman wore a green jacket to officially give the U.S. 31 Kokomo bypass a green light Friday.  After 16 years of planning, making plans, building consensus, paying consultants and surveying land, the Indiana Department of Transportation is finally ready to move ahead with the $344 million project."  See the full article at http://www.kokomotribune.com/archivesearch/local_story_138235540.html