Infrastructure News Summary
For May 16, 2008

HIGH GAS PRICES AFFECTING STATE REVENUE
WLFI
5/15/08

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Soaring prices at the pump don't necessarily mean big bucks in taxes to the state of Indiana. The state's gas excise tax is a fixed 18 cents on every gallon of gas. Even as prices go up, the tax remains the same. But so far this fiscal year, gas consumption is down about 3%, costing the state about $12 million. State budget director Chris Ruhl says that in the 2006 and 2007 fiscal years, the state collected about $570 million in gas excise taxes. Money from the excise tax goes to road construction and repair. The state's seven percent sales tax does mean more money for the state since that revenue grows as prices increase. http://www.wlfi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8328731
Also, http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/NEWS07/805150309
Also, http://www.wibc.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=91315

KEYSTONE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
Noblesville Daily Times
5/15/08

Construction activities have begun on Keystone Avenue with Milestone Contractors adjusting lane configurations near the 106th and 126th street interchanges. Additional turn lanes are being added at 116th Street and Carmel Drive to help traffic accessing Keystone. Crews are also working to adjust traffic signals along Range Line Road and Gray Road in anticipation of the 106th and 126th street road closures, which may happen as early as Tuesday, May 27. The 106th and 126th streets interchanges are part of the first phase of a three-year project to lower the grade of Keystone Avenue under five major interchanges along the 5-mile stretch. When completed, the north-south traffic on Keystone Avenue will be free-flowing with no traffic lights between 96th Street and 146th Street, and tear-drop shaped roundabouts will manage the east-west traffic flow. http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14116&Itemid=230

CHANGES COULD COME SOON TO BROADWAY IN CP
The NWI Times
Kathleen Quilligan
5/15/08

CROWN POINT | Traffic-clogged Broadway in Crown Point could see relief as early as late this year or early 2009, local elected officials said Thursday. Concerned about the flow of traffic and safety on Broadway between 93rd and 109th streets, state Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, and Mayor David Uran began talks last year regarding how to improve the traffic on the road before its 2012 scheduled expansion by the Indiana Department of Transportation. Uran said INDOT and the elected officials agreed to focus on four intersections along Broadway, hoping that fixing the intersections could eliminate the need for complete widening of the road. He said city engineers will complete a traffic study, and INDOT will complete a feasibility study within the next 30 days. INDOT has $8.2 million budgeted for the 2012 expansion that could be put toward fixing the intersections. http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/05/15/updates/breaking_news/doc482c96b1defdb209610659.txt