Candidate Announces Position On I-69
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana gubernatorial candidate Eric Miller officially announced his position on I-69 today, weighing in on one of the state's most heated political issues. He announced his support for the I-70 and U.S. 41 route, arguing it is the commonsense decision to make.
Miller said that after reviewing relevant information involving the proposed new terrain route for I-69, he believes the right decision is to expand I-70 and U.S. 41. There have been countless feasibility studies outsourced by the state that have all come back with the same question - should Indiana spend $1 billion to save 11 minutes of travel time from Indianapolis to Evansville? Eric Miller believes the answer is no.
"Anyone who does a simple cost-benefit analysis of the governor's proposed new terrain reroute will quickly find that the minor benefits do not justify the extreme cost of taxpayers' money and property," said Miller.
"Indiana taxpayers shouldn't have to pay $1 billion to save 11 minutes on a three-hour drive from Indianapolis to Evansville."
Miller cited five major considerations leading to his decision to oppose the I-69 new terrain route:
• The new terrain route costs $1 billion more than Miller's plan to expand the existing I-70 and U.S. 41 route.
• The new route is only 11 minutes faster, saving only 12 to 14 miles out of a 154- to 156-mile drive.
• More than 6,900 acres of land will be consumed by the governor's new terrain route, including Indiana farmlands, forests and wetlands (3,800 acres more than Miller's plan).
• Terre Haute will suffer economic losses due to a new terrain I-69 that will divert nearly 30 percent of the current U.S. 41 traffic.
• Knox, Vigo and Sullivan counties have the second, third and seventh highest Indiana poverty rates, respectively. Decreasing traffic flow through these areas will further decimate these economies.
Recognizing that a quality highway from Indianapolis to Evansville is long overdue, Miller said Indiana must act quickly and not delay progress. He said that good old-fashioned Hoosier common sense would indicate that since I-70 and U.S. 41 already exist, his plan would take less time to complete than the projected time for the governor's new terrain route - 21 years. As governor. Miller would use the $1 billion saved on other state transportation projects like U.S. 31.
Miller is a Republican Indiana gubernatorial candidate who is an attorney and the founder and former executive director of Advance America, Indiana's largest pro-family, pro-business and pro-tax reform organization. He and his family live in Hendricks County.
On the Net: www.ericmiller2004.com [[In-content Ad]]
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana gubernatorial candidate Eric Miller officially announced his position on I-69 today, weighing in on one of the state's most heated political issues. He announced his support for the I-70 and U.S. 41 route, arguing it is the commonsense decision to make.
Miller said that after reviewing relevant information involving the proposed new terrain route for I-69, he believes the right decision is to expand I-70 and U.S. 41. There have been countless feasibility studies outsourced by the state that have all come back with the same question - should Indiana spend $1 billion to save 11 minutes of travel time from Indianapolis to Evansville? Eric Miller believes the answer is no.
"Anyone who does a simple cost-benefit analysis of the governor's proposed new terrain reroute will quickly find that the minor benefits do not justify the extreme cost of taxpayers' money and property," said Miller.
"Indiana taxpayers shouldn't have to pay $1 billion to save 11 minutes on a three-hour drive from Indianapolis to Evansville."
Miller cited five major considerations leading to his decision to oppose the I-69 new terrain route:
• The new terrain route costs $1 billion more than Miller's plan to expand the existing I-70 and U.S. 41 route.
• The new route is only 11 minutes faster, saving only 12 to 14 miles out of a 154- to 156-mile drive.
• More than 6,900 acres of land will be consumed by the governor's new terrain route, including Indiana farmlands, forests and wetlands (3,800 acres more than Miller's plan).
• Terre Haute will suffer economic losses due to a new terrain I-69 that will divert nearly 30 percent of the current U.S. 41 traffic.
• Knox, Vigo and Sullivan counties have the second, third and seventh highest Indiana poverty rates, respectively. Decreasing traffic flow through these areas will further decimate these economies.
Recognizing that a quality highway from Indianapolis to Evansville is long overdue, Miller said Indiana must act quickly and not delay progress. He said that good old-fashioned Hoosier common sense would indicate that since I-70 and U.S. 41 already exist, his plan would take less time to complete than the projected time for the governor's new terrain route - 21 years. As governor. Miller would use the $1 billion saved on other state transportation projects like U.S. 31.
Miller is a Republican Indiana gubernatorial candidate who is an attorney and the founder and former executive director of Advance America, Indiana's largest pro-family, pro-business and pro-tax reform organization. He and his family live in Hendricks County.
On the Net: www.ericmiller2004.com [[In-content Ad]]