Bill expanding interstate tolling options advancing in Indiana

Would open more Interstates around Indiana to being turned into toll roads

Indianapolis -- A bill advancing in the Indiana legislature opens more interstate highways to possible tolls, including routes like I-64 and I-65 in southern Indiana.

For years, Indiana's governor has had the choice of asking federal authorities for permission to toll existing interstates — an approach that hasn't yet been used.

The law now requires the first such toll lanes to be 75 miles from existing toll roads. That provision, for example, would keep interstates in Clark and Floyd counties toll-free because of their proximity to the RiverLink bridges that connect Louisville and Clark County, Indiana.

But House Bill 1461, a sweeping road funding measure that cleared the House of Representatives last Thursday, removes that requirement. Its sponsor, Republican Rep. Jim Pressel from northwest Indiana, reportedly has downplayed the tolling piece of his legislation, saying it simply gives Republican Gov. Mike Braun "additional flexibility" if he pursues interstate tolling.

Braun's office didn't immediately respond to questions emailed Tuesday afternoon asking whether he intends to seek federal approval to toll any interstate highways.

Rep. Ed Clere, a Republican from New Albany, voted against the bill in committee but was excused due to illness when the full House vote occurred. "I have a number of concerns, including the tolling language," he told WDRB News.

"The bill eliminates important safeguards and, as a result, makes tolling easier and less accountable," Clere said." I can’t support that, nor can I support the language requiring municipalities and counties to impose new taxes as a condition of receiving road funding.”

While the legislation might raise concerns about additional tolls in the Louisville region, "I might be somewhat surprised if we come out of this session with any hard, fast, definitive decisions regarding the future of tolling," said Gary Langston, president of the Indiana Motor Truck Association.

"I think this is more a focus on analyzing and putting tools in place if that's what is determined necessary," he said.

Federal law allows tolls on existing interstates only under specific programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration. The most flexible program — the one used when Kentucky and Indiana got approval in 2012 for tolls on the Ohio River Bridges Project — allows tolls on current interstates if the number of toll-free lanes isn't reduced.

Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser, D-Jeffersonville, voted in favor of the bill. In an interview, she noted that House Democrats unsuccessfully tried to remove the toll language.

She said the "low-hanging fruit" could be tolls on interstate sections like Interstate 70, where, conceivably, trucks and other vehicles could cross through Indiana without stopping to pay fuel taxes that support road funding.

"What we would like to do is consider corridors like that," she said.

In theory, however, tolls could be considered for interstates like I-65 and others in the region, Dant Chesser said.

"I know everything is on the table, so staying at the table is going to be an important part of my goal going into the second half of the (legislative) session," she said.

Indiana stands to receive an estimated $38 billion in toll revenue between 2029-50, according to a legislative analysis of the bill.

Among other things, the legislation allows Indiana counties to pledge some property taxes for transportation funding and lets local governments transfer money from the Community Crossings Fund for transportation uses.  

Those local units would get $55 million in fiscal 2028 and $2.5 million annually after that, the analysis shows.

It also requires some local governments to impose county transportation taxes and so-called municipal wheel taxes.

This story may be updated.