LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Indiana Gov. Mike Braun says the state is in strong financial shape, but he’s urging local governments, school districts, and state agencies to avoid growing government faster than the economy. Still, questions remain about whether drivers could face new tolls.
Braun addressed those concerns directly.
"Let me say categorically there are no tolls going to be done on any interstate," Braun said. "We’re looking for a tolling waiver on 70 only."
The governor emphasized that traveling to Indianapolis, Seymour, or Memphis would not cost drivers more than the tolls already in place on the Ohio River bridges. But Interstate 70 remains a topic of discussion, especially given its heavy use.
"If it improves the roads, fine, but there’s been construction on Highway 70 as long as I can remember," one Indianapolis driver said.
Aside from the Ohio River crossings, the nearest toll booths are in northern Indiana, where passenger vehicles traveling east or west pay roughly $16 to cross the state. Semitrucks are paying as much $90 and more. Drivers using I-70 currently pay nothing.
Braun says that imbalance matters.
"Because over half of the usage is from out-of-staters that don’t pay, don’t even stop to buy a candy bar," he said.
Braun also made clear that tolls on Interstates 69 and 65 are not part of the conversation. And despite lawmakers giving the idea a green light, the governor cautioned that tolling I-70 is far from certain.
"If we don’t do it on 70 — the most heavily-used lateral in the country when half of the users don’t pay for it — that doesn’t make sense," Braun said. "It makes everyone more at ease, and then you’re generally going to be interested in maybe trying it."
Meanwhile, Indiana drivers will soon see a small increase at the pump. The state gas tax is scheduled to rise one cent in July, from 36 to 37 cents per gallon. When combined with sales and federal taxes, Indiana drivers are already paying close to some of the highest total fuel taxes in the nation.
"It’s again — if you want to fill the holes, you’ve got to make sure it’s there," Braun said. "That has worked. I would love to see it expand and do that, maybe through our own state resources, outside of raising any type of user fee."
Braun says some of that revenue is already improving local infrastructure.
"Infrastructure and local roads have probably been in the best shape they’ve ever been in, especially for smaller communities," he said.
Many of those improvements are funded through the state’s Community Crossings program, which directs money to local road and bridge projects.
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