County, city get combined $1.2 million from state for roads

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Montgomery County and the city of Crawfordsville got some good news this week! Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness announced that 218 Indiana cities, towns, and counties received a combined $101.9 million in state matching funds for local road projects through Community Crossings, a component of the Governor’s Next Level Roads program.

Here in Montgomery County, that means the city is getting approximately $260,000 and the county a whopping $1 million.

“We appreciate the state’s support in providing another paving grant to Montgomery County to help improve our roads,” Montgomery County Commissioner President John Frey said. “The last four years we have received (Community Crossings) paving grant funds that allowed us to pave 37 miles of roads.”

County Manager Tom Klein agreed.

“Thanks to our County Engineer Jim Peck and County Highway Director Jake Lough for identifying the roads to be included in the grant.”

Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton said the money makes a difference.

“We very much appreciate being awarded funding under the Community Crossings program,” Barton said. “It allows us to leverage local street repair funds in a significant way and enhances our ability to repave more streets than we could before the program existed.”  

“Community Crossings continues to have a transformative effect on communities across Indiana” Holcomb said. “The partnership between the state and local governments is empowering Hoosier cities, towns and counties to invest more and take on bigger projects than ever before to modernize their local transportation systems to meet the demand of our growing economy.”

The Community Crossings initiative has provided more than $1 billion in state matching funds for local construction projects since 2016. Communities submitted applications for funding during a highly competitive call for projects held in January. Applications were evaluated based on need and current conditions and impacts to safety and economic development. Funding for Community Crossings comes from the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund.
“Community Crossings is one of the most important tools available to our local partners to support their efforts to improve local roads and bridges,” INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness said. “Rebuilding and improving local roads, while also addressing safety needs, promotes growth and enhances the business environment and quality of place across Indiana.”

To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds, 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities, from a funding source approved for road and bridge construction. They must also submit an INDOT-approved asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges. State law requires annually that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer. State lawmakers identified long-term funding for Community Crossings as part of House Enrolled Act 1002, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in April 2017.
The next call for projects in Community Crossings will open in January 2022.