Road Funding Bill Advances in House

Rep. Ed Soliday (R-4) authored the bill.

The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee has passed the Republican proposal for long-term infrastructure spending. House Bill 1002, which Republicans say could generate $1.2 billion per year for the next 20 years, now moves to the full House for consideration.

The bill, authored by Rep. Ed Soliday (R-4), includes an increase in the gasoline tax by 10 cents per gallon, as well as special fuel and motor carrier surcharge taxes and new annual vehicle fees. Soliday says, if passed, the average motorist would pay about $4 more per month at the pump.

The bill would also require the Indiana Department of Transportation to study tolling and submit a waiver to the federal government to allow tolling on existing Indiana interstates. The bill passed the House Roads and Transportation Committee last month.

"Indiana’s current road funding formula is outdated and in need of major reform," said Soliday. "This plan would ensure Indiana has money dedicated solely to infrastructure. This bill is data-driven, fiscally responsible and will maintain our roads and bridges for years to come."

The passage by the Ways and Means Committee comes two days after House Democrats unveiled their road funding plan. Rep. Dan Forestal (D-100) told Inside INdiana Business Tuesday that their plan would generate about $900 million per year without raising taxes. 

Soliday said the Democrats’ plan "is missing responsible, sustainable, long-term funding."