By Sam Elliott

Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Dept. of Transportation Commissioner Brandye Hendrickson visited Hamilton County Aug. 22 to announce the awarding of millions of dollars in matching funds to area communities.

Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear and Westfield Mayor Andy Cook joined the state officials for a press conference marking the announcement outside the Indiana Design Center Aug. 22 in Carmel. Hamilton County, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield will receive nearly $4.5 million combined thanks to the state’s Community Crossing matching grant program.

“This is a celebratory week for INDOT and the communities around Indiana that are receiving these matching funds,” Hendrickson said. “Over the past few months, INDOT has worked feverishly to get this program up and running and out to the local communities and have made it just as easy as possible to get projects started and under way.”

The state received nearly 1,600 applications from 320 communities for this round of funding, and 102 central Indiana cities, towns and counties will receive a combined $47 million to go toward improving local roads and bridges.

“That represents a huge commitment to modernizing local roads and bridges, but beyond that it shows that communities are committed to building the types of neighborhoods where people want to start businesses, grow their businesses and raise their families,” Holcomb said. “Few if any states have made the commitment in the last decade in terms of infrastructure than Indiana … This year alone, 2016, Indiana is investing close to $850 million on more than 770 road and infrastructure projects across the whole state. This will include new pavement, many new miles of travel lanes, rehabilitated and replaced bridges, environmental improvement projects and still so much more.”

Carmel, Fishers, Westfield and Hamilton County, as well as Zionsville and Boone County, will each receive $1 million in matching funds from INDOT while Noblesville will receive $497,550.

CARMEL

The City of Carmel will invest its $1 million in Community Crossings matching grant funds into the construction of a new roundabout and additional improvements at he intersection of Range Line Road and 4th Street in its new Midtown redevelopment.

“That roundabout will help traffic flow better on (Range Line Road) and allow us to move Allied Solutions, a longtime Carmel company, into a new building right here in our Midtown redevelopment area, replacing abandoned industrial buildings,” Brainard said. “That will be a five-story headquarters building and the private company is investing nearly $33 million and bringing about 600 jobs to this part of town, so this roundabout will help move some of the traffic that comes as a result.

“As we move forward with this project and many other projects throughout the city in the next few years, I want to thank our residents and motorists for their patience,” he added. “We will work hard to get our projects done quickly and with as little pain as possible for local businesses and residents.”

FISHERS

The City of Fishers is planning to put its $1 million matching grant toward modernization efforts to 116th Street between Eller Road and I-69.

“Today is a transformative day for all of us. The ability to maintain the critical infrastructure that we all have and we all need and all rely upon is becoming more and more challenging,” Fadness said. “This innovative approach that INDOT has for delivering matching funds to all the local communities so that we can continue to progress the quality of life for our residents is truly a well-timed and extraordinary opportunity for each and every one of our cities. I want to thank the lieutenant governor and the state legislature and I look forward to getting going on this project.”

NOBLESVILLE

The City of Noblesville has multiple road projects in mind for the nearly $498,000 it’s receiving from INDOT.

“We certainly would like to thank INDOT, Commissioner Hendrickson, Lt. Gov. Holcomb and certainly the legislature and Gov. Pence,” Ditslear said. “Two of these projects are residential projects that have been put aside and put aside and put aside because a lack of funds as well as in the commercial district where we’ve wanted to pave and improve for three years. This will give us the opportunity to do this for our residents and all citizens in the county as well.”

WESTFIELD

The City of Westfield is planning to put its $1 million in matching funds toward reconstruction of Tomlinson Road between Blackburn Road and 203rd Street in addition to other city street improvement efforts.

“Our potential residents, potential investors business-wise in this state and our cities and towns, they look for a good infrastructure. I’m thrilled the state is recognizing that and is willing to put money in it,” Cook said. “Locally our citizens simply ask, ‘Hey, get the snow off and make it smooth.’ This is going to go a long way toward accomplishing just that. To all those involved, thank you for putting the emphasis on the very important asset of roadway infrastructure.”

Community                 Funds Awarded

Boone County                 $1 million

Carmel                              $1 million

Fishers                              $1 million

Fortville                            $254,988

Hamilton County            $1 million

Lawrence                          $1 million

McCordsville                    $248,535.35

Noblesville                        $497,550

Westfield                           $1 million

Whitestown                      $475,074.50

Zionsville                           $1 million