Infrastructure News Summary
For June 20, 2008

COUNCIL SKEPTICAL ABOUT MAPLECREST
4 OF 7 MEMBERS LEAN AGAINST VOTING FOR $50 MILLION PROJECT.
The News-Sentinel
Kevin Leininger
6/18/08

With less than a week to go before the anticipated vote, it appears a sales job will be needed to persuade Allen County Council to support one of the largest and most-debated road projects in local history. Although three Council members are solidly in favor of extending Maplecrest Road from Lake Avenue 1.5 miles south to Adams Center Road, the four remaining members said Tuesday they are leaning against the $50 million project, and will need to be persuaded with realistic financial data if they are to support it. http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/NEWS/806180315/0/FRONTPAGE

MARKLE COUNCIL ALERTED TO NEED FOR CLOSING OF NOVAE PARKWAY IN SEPTEMBER FOR REPAIRS
The Bluffton News-Banner
Frank Shanly
6/19/08

Markle's Novae Parkway is expected to be closed for repair for a two-week period in September. Utility Superintendent Rick Asher updated Markle Town Council members Tamra Boucher, Jeff Humbarger and Mark Hamilton regarding plans to proceed with this work at the town council meeting on Wednesday evening. Novae Parkway is one of the main roads in the developing business district west of Markle, and one of four of the town's roads identified in urgent need of repair. The bulk of the project will be funded by funds from CEDIT funds provided by Huntington County. Asher advised that the work is being scheduled for September, and is expected to take two weeks. http://www.news-banner.com/index/news-app/story.10665

AMERICANS DRIVING LESS AS GAS PRICES CLIMB
1.4B FEWER MILES DRIVEN IN APRIL '08 THAN APRIL '07
The Indy Channel
6/19/08

As gas prices continue to set records, Americans are driving less and using public transit more, a trend that has lasted the past six months. U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said that Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April 2008 than April 2007. Vehicle miles on all public roads dropped nearly 2 percent from April 2007 to April 2008. There is a decline of almost 20 billion miles travelled this year. "We're burning less fuel as energy costs change driving patterns, steer people toward more fuel-efficient vehicles and encourage more to use transit," Peters said. "Which is exactly why we need a more effective funding source than the gas tax." http://www.theindychannel.com/automotive/16654898/detail.html

INDOT OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE SOME ROADS TO REOPEN
The Brazil Times
Jason Moon
6/19/08

Employees with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) have been working feverishly to repair many roads in several counties following recent flooding. INDOT workers have been in Clay County taking care of three specific areas that should be ready for use soon. According to INDOT Crawfordsville District Public Information Officer Debbie Calder, State Road 42 between Cory Road and County Road 300 W has a tentative reopening date of June 25.
http://www.thebraziltimes.com/story/1438618.html

BATTLE OVER BRIDGES CONTINUES
Indiana's News Center
Jeff Neumeyer
6/19/08

FORT WAYNE, IN (Indiana's NewsCenter) --- Time is running out on a solution for how to fund bridge repairs across Allen County next year. A plan laid out to address the situation is going nowhere fast. The City of Fort Wayne and Allen County government talk a lot about collaboration and cooperation, but those concepts don't seem to be working on how to pay for fixing bridges. Starting January 1st, Fort Wayne, New Haven, and other municipalities will be responsible for fixing their own bridges, unless all entities formally request a wheel tax/surtax increase, and agree to remit the extra proceeds over to the county for bridge maintenance. http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/20576104.html

TREE SITTERS PROTESTING I-69 PROJECT ARRESTED
The Indianapolis Star
6/20/08

HAUBSTADT, Ind. (AP) -- Police have arrested two people who pitched tents in a cluster of trees along the planned route of the Interstate 69 extension to protest the highway's construction. The protesters were arrested Friday in a wooded area about 20 miles north of Evansville after a month of protest. The protesters were on land owned by the state highway department west of Indiana 57 and Indiana 68 for the stretch of I-69 planned to run between Evansville and Indianapolis. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IN_TREE_SITTERS_INOL-?SITE=ININS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-06-20-10-42-18

BUSINESSES, HOMES TO LOSE GROUND TO IND. 32
The Star Press
Michael McBride
6/19/08

YORKTOWN -- The state nibbled away at the Animal Medical Center's property when it added three lanes to Ind. 32 east of Nebo Road and remade Nebo's intersection with the highway three years ago. Veterinarian Roger Smith, owner for 17 years at that time, remodeled the business, moving the main entrance further away from the encroaching highway. Now that business and other properties stand to lose more ground to the Indiana Department of Transportation's plans to re-construct the highway west of Nebo. http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/BUSINESS/806190345/1002
Also, http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/local/local_story_171072107.html