Our future vision of U.S. 30 is about to become a bit more in focus!
Next Tuesday, a draft of proposed safety improvements will be released by INDOT as a product of the Planning and Environmental Linkages Study (PEL). The report will be titled “Draft Level 3 Screening Report” and will be available at the PROPELUS30.com website.
So what does all of this mean?
Kosciusko County and Warsaw were involved in the formation and organization of the seven-county U.S. 30 Coalition over 10 years ago. The Coalition’s role has been to advocate for a safe solution that addresses the frequency and severity of traffic accidents brought on by traffic congestion and truck volumes that have been increasing over the past two decades along U.S. 30 in our communities. The Coalition is made up of mayors, county commissioners, both city and county planning and transportation leaders, business and industry representatives, and a team of talented consultants.
Three years ago, the Coalition successfully persuaded INDOT to initiate a formal study of the aforementioned issues. The first of many steps of a lengthy, state and federal process, the PEL study engaged all of the communities along the corridor. By studying the existing road conditions, reviewing traffic and accident data, the outcome is to propose a solution that would improve safety and the efficiency of transportation along U.S. 30 from Allen through Porter counties. The final report is due early in 2025 after over two years of work.
The release of the Level 3 Screening report next week will represent a draft of the final “alternatives” phase of the PEL and, more important, the final chance for communities to be heard about these proposals.
What will the report tell us?
The public has not seen the report yet so we can only speculate what is on it. We have been told that this report will group primary and secondary intersections into planning segments. Safety solutions (alternatives) will be listed for all of the intersections within each of the planning segments. Some examples of safety solutions might include a grade separated interchange, an overpass or underpass, and the closure of direct access to U.S. Depending on how detailed the report is, there could be mention of specific frontage roads.
The Coalition has been advocating for a full freeway along the entire seven-county corridor to improve safety and facilitate efficient transportation for business and industry. INDOT will rely on public comments from stakeholders and residents to help identify the improvements that will be included in the final recommendations. This final public comment period will run through Dec. 13 and the community is encouraged to review the report and leave their thoughts on the website.
There will also be a public meeting in Warsaw on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 5-7 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School. Similar to the previous public meetings, we anticipate that there will be a detailed layout of the Draft Level 3 Screening Report for the public to inspect and comment on. INDOT consultants will be available to answer questions.
So how long will it be before anything happens?
It is very difficult to give an exact timeline because of the complexity of the project and the enormous cost. The process is guided by the Federal Highway Administration and the Indiana Department of Transportation. The PEL study was initiated and supported by Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration and the PEL Final Report will complete step one.
With the election and Mike Braun as our next governor, the new administration will be responsible to review the PEL study and guide the next steps of the project. The following steps may not be exactly correct but will give you an idea of what has to happen for this project to come to fruition so to come up with a timeline is a bit premature at this point.
With 13 planning segments, it will not be feasible to do the entire project at once. Which planning segments will be funded and when they will be designated onto the STIP will be up to the new administration and the legislature. The new administration will rely on the PEL to prioritize the order of the 13 planning segments projects.
The identification of funding, which is always the challenge on a major transportation project, becomes the next complex variable. Once funding is identified, those projects that are at the front of the line will be designated the to “the list” (the State Transportation Improvement Plan). The STIP only designates projects out no more than five years so a combination of cost and that five-year project window will determine how many projects will be designated.
Once designated and funds identified, there is another federal environmental study, more planning, design, and engineering before construction can begin. Depending on the availability of funds, the process could be four to six years after the planning segments have been designated. Only then can the bids be let and construction begin.
But for now, I would encourage you to get on the PROPELUS30.com website next Tuesday. Get familiar with the “Draft Level 3 Screening Report” and provide your thoughts on how the study aligns with your vision of the future of U.S. 30 in our community. Your comments are very important and must be received by Dec. 13!