Posted on 10/09/2018 8:12:39 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
LAPORTE — Law enforcement in LaPorte County is preparing for the possibility of an already-congested and dangerous U.S. 20 being overrun with more semi-trucks as drivers avoid the 35 percent cost increase of traveling the Indiana Toll Road.
Much of that stretch of highway being down to one lane in each direction for resurfacing adds to the concerns.
LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd said he’s reached out to Indiana State Police to help patrol U.S. 20 if an increase in truck traffic becomes too much for his staff to handle alone.
“We’re going to prepare for it,” Boyd said. “We’re going to closely monitor it and we’ll adjust and reach out if we have to.”
Gary Langston, president of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, predicted in an earlier Tribune article that there will be a much greater diversion of trucks off the Toll Road “than anyone imagines,” resulting in more congestion on toll-free highways and the possibility of more accidents.
The toll increase is strictly on trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds and went into effect Friday.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb worked with ITR Concession Co., the private operators of the Toll Road, on the rate increase, which is projected to generate $1 billion for the state infrastructure upgrades.
Boyd said he has no doubt truck traffic on U.S. 20 will increase because he’s seen it happen during periods of road construction on the Toll Road.
That’s a concern for officials considering the highway’s already grim history. According to police, 12 of the 19 motor vehicle deaths last year in LaPorte County happened on U.S 20. Crash statistics for 2018 were not immediately available. However, Boyd said, they do seem noticeably down this year on U.S. 20.
Efforts have been made recently to slow traffic on the highway through lane restrictions. Rumble strips were also placed on the centerline by the Indiana Department of Transportation in response to the rash of serious injury and fatal crashes in 2017, Boyd said.
Leigh Morris, a former deputy commissioner of Toll Road oversight for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said he worries the higher tolls, while bringing in a financial windfall for the state, will hurt the LaPorte County community more in the long run.
“This can be very advantageous to the state of Indiana,” said Morris, “but the true bottom line of it is going to be what happens as a result of the increased tolls.”
Oh, not exactly an increase from, say, $2 to $2.70. Sound legit.
I don’t know enough about the original deal, but once toll money is diverted (i.e., which is always the case), then people start looking at other options...which is not good for anyone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.