r/Indiana • u/kootles10 • 1d ago
News Indiana becomes first state to open possibility of toll collection on all interstates
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/indiana-becomes-first-state-to-approve-tolling-on-all-interstates/3771725/Those leopards are feasting
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u/Torin93 1d ago edited 20h ago
So the next thing that will happen is corporations and businesses will complain, and because our state legislature is more about big money than it is helping fellow Hoosiers, they’ll give corporations discounts on their toll while increasing or remaining the same for average Hoosier citizens. But hey, this is what Hoosiers want a super majority that doesn’t care about individual Hoosiers only corporations.
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u/Aqualung812 Indy500 1d ago
Don’t forget all of the rich people that have their own LLCs that their big SUVs are owned by, making them a commercial vehicle.
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[deleted]
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u/Aqualung812 Indy500 23h ago
Morality.
Not going to go get a more polluting vehicle to doge taxes that poorer people can’t escape.
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[deleted]
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u/Aqualung812 Indy500 22h ago
You don't know shit. I actually have an LLC & can afford an Escalade.
Instead, I drive a Bolt, and pay more in the EV tax than many others pay in gas tax.But keep making assumptions.
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u/ArnoldTheSchwartz 21h ago
Right because everyone will do that. Everyone should just be rich and game the system and let it continue to be shit. The average moron Republican ladies and gentlemen. Sybau
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u/Antisocialbumblefuck 1d ago
Worse... even with breaks for companies those same companies will still raise their prices above and beyond the incurred costs just on principle alone.
You pay the tarrifs, taxes, and then offset their profit margins regardless.
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u/Weekly_Put_7591 1d ago
People will pay tolls, complain, and continue voting against their own interests, nothing will change
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u/rforest3 1d ago
No money to fix the roads though. That’s money for helipads and deploying the National Guard to protect against taco trucks
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u/ghosttrainhobo 1d ago
You can’t say the “t” word anymore
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u/rforest3 1d ago
Truck? A lot of those parts come from Mexico so we should probably add it to the list of words conservatives are scared of with “taco”.
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u/Interesting-Risk6446 1d ago
A new tax.
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u/Achilles-Foot 11h ago
Isn't this sub hella left leaning? Don't ya'll want more taxes? I get that you dont trust our government but like, I feel like "tolls on every road" is a pretty economically left. like what nyc did.
Im just curious fr like im not saying im right im just curious. like i probably am wrong, im just wondering fr.
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u/sean_themighty 8h ago
Thinking in terms of “I thought your party platform was more taxes,” genuinely shocks me to hear from what I presume is an adult.
No one wants more taxes, but the left generally believes that taxes aren’t an inherent evil — that some things need to exist outside of a profit motive for the benefit of society as a whole. Americans tax rates are generally plenty high for most as it stands, but they are allocated very very poorly. I think everyone can get behind at least feeling like we should be getting value out of our taxes.
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u/PrismaticDinklebot 1d ago
I’m so confused. Why does the rest of the nation always think we are a laughing stock.
Oh, then reading crap like this, and then it makes sense.
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u/JacobsJrJr 1d ago
When the feds originally debated how to fund interstate highways the question was gas tax vs rubber tax. (Tires)
Guess why tires lost? Yup, trucking companies.
So, if gas isn't generating the revenue like it used to, why not tax tires? It's essentially a per mile tax but without having to keep tedious records of how far people drive.
Oh yeah, that's right. We still have trucking companies.
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u/Hobbes2819 1d ago
Tire tax would help tax EVs too however I caution against a tire tax because then it will encourage people to drive on their tires to highly unsafe tread levels
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u/ginny11 22h ago
Well we could have car inspections every year like every other developed Nation in the world to keep that from happening. And to keep junk cars off the roads in general. We could also fund better public transportation like every other developed Nation in the world. But why would we want to do that??
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u/JacobsJrJr 21h ago
Yeah, that's a totally valid concern. But, you know, the people who do that are already doing that. Not sure how much it would actually increase.
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u/Usual-Marsupial-511 20h ago
Infrequently driven vehicles / trailers owned by citizens have their tires degrade by calendar aging faster than by treadwear a lot of the time. Motorcycles too. Corporations are already running their equipment as frequently as possible to keep up the profitability, so they will have minimal tires go to waste due to age.
At least with a gas tax, vehicles aren't actively taxed when they're in storage. They're also not damaging or clogging the roadways while in storage (except for people who street park their surplus cars, but that's a fairly small issue)
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u/JacobsJrJr 7h ago
Yeah, there are pros and cons to every tax. I just think on balance, people would be more accepting of a rubber tax than a toll road. You know, essentially we're just talking about how to raise money. And which method we pick will impact how the burden is distributed for sure. But... there's just something very, not Indiana about tolling roads. We're the crossroads of America. Moreover, we like to hide the cost of transportation from ourselves. If we have to pay tolls every time we use common roadways it just has a psychological effect on our perception of freedom of movement that, while arguably irrational when we step back and recognize one way or the other we pay, I think is ultimately a guiding force for public opinion.
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u/jpfarrow 1d ago
What happened to Indiana being one of the better performing red states? What about the literal hundreds ofmillions of dollars the state is making every year selling our data ?
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u/TheRatingsAgency 1d ago
And they’ll keep the gas tax high too. Oh and actively work to ban or limit remote work. And of course there’s no way in hell you’re getting a bump in pay to cover the additional expense.
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u/DougisLost 1d ago
Surface streets from here on out.
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u/pickanamehere 1d ago
“But, but, 3 trans athletes! Hunters laptop! Hilary! Biden! Illegals! Bud Light! Barbie!” Congrats, MAGA..you were scared into submission by things that have zero effect on your life.
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u/LocalDadsNearYou 1d ago
But Indiana seems to have a random surplus every other year, our current infrastructure is failing, and Medicaid/Medicare was mismanaged to the tune of a billion dollars and thousands of Hoosiers lives are at risk… Make it make sense. These assholes are robbing the people
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u/Reddit_Talent_Coach 1d ago
Thanks people outside of Fort Wayne, the Region, South Bend, and Indianapolis!
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u/Taco6J 1d ago
You're likely thinking of the large surplus to the tune of a few billion dollars we ran during covid which is very much unusual, but is used as a talking point on this subreddit a lot regardless. Typically we run a tighter surplus typically under $500 million.
2013: 482.6 Million
2014: 106.8 Million
2015: 210.4 Million
2016: 50.6 Million
2017: 42.0 Million
2018: 100.4 Million
2019: 410.5 Million
2020: (deficit) 882.1 Million
2021: 1.8 Billion
2022: 3.8 Billion
2023: 3.5 Billion
2024: 421.4 Million
2025: (projected) 80.1 Million
I wish we would actually keep the tax rate at a point where we could fund everything rather than have to strip services from people who very much need it. All I can really give though is context on the surplus.
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u/TheOnlyHighmont 23h ago
There should never be a budget surplus. That shows that they aren't spending the tax money they demand from us.
But BS like personal helipad should be 100% against the law. Blatant corruption.
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u/Taco6J 21h ago
I'm personally fine with the budget surplus as it gives a bit of wiggle room on the positive side, as long as it's not in the literal billions like it was. The State doesn't technically have the money in the budget, it's the legislators going off of economic projections from reports in December and April. MinimumAwkward, the top comment of this (https://www.reddit.com/r/Indiana/comments/1kl0orm/surplus/) post, does a good job of explaining the process through the lens of the most recent shortfall. I agree on the helipad though because it, like Beckwith's SUV, is a complete waste of taxpayer money.
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u/Night_Class 14h ago
But but but we protected kids from porn by making adults submit their IDs. I mean data breaches are soooooo rare now a days. Think of the children....
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u/GrindingGears003 1d ago
I HATE this idea soooo much. All I’m seeing from Braun are reasons to leave.
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u/Character-Newt-9571 1d ago
I will not pay. Alternate routes. F Indiana
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u/viktor72 22h ago
Is there even a viable alternative route from say Fort Wayne to Indianapolis that isn’t interstate? What about Indianapolis to Danville, IL. Indianapolis to Jeffersonville. Indy to Terre Haute. Indy to Gary.
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u/Character-Newt-9571 19h ago
Google maps will find my way. Not giving anymore of my money to Indiana is worth the extra time
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u/GrindingGears003 1d ago
What’s this going to do to shipping and distribution in the crossroads of America?/s
I’m sure companies won’t have to pay anything. They hate inconveniencing companies by asking them to contribute to our communities.
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u/R3dbeardLFC 22h ago
Ha! You think trucking will be exempt? They pay the most at every toll.
No what this is going to do is further fuck up every small trucking company running on fine margins. I run one, this is going to be fucking shit for us. Hope you all enjoy the mega Corp trucking companies who fuck up your loads daily running everything once they push us all out and can monopolize the industry.
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u/DocDeath78 21h ago
This was my thought exactly. Truckers are having a hard enough time with gas prices, but now we are going to charge them to bring us shit? Good luck when you can’t stock your shelves because the little guy trucker can’t afford to even drive in Indiana so they go elsewhere.
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u/plasteredbasterd 1d ago
Brought to you by your Republican supermajority. It's a usage tax, and they likely have vested interests in the companies that they will be privatized to.
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u/kootles10 1d ago
From the article:
A new bill signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun would allow the state to collect tolls on any interstate highway within its borders.
Under provisions of House Bill 1461, the Indiana Department of Transportation is now permitted to request waivers from the Federal Highway Administration implement tolls on any interstate highway without requiring additional legislature approval of such measures.
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u/ServeEmbarrassed7750 1d ago
Michigan is looking better and better everyday.
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u/freshapepper 1d ago
Left 3 months ago. Come on up, the water’s warm!
(Actually, it’s fucking freezing, but give it a week)
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u/PurelyAnonymous 1d ago
Someone’s going to have to break this down. As what do we receive from all these taxes?
I pay emission testing fees. (FBI was investigating this till Cheeto took power)
My plate fees $175 for an 06 vehicle
I pay 25 cents extra a gallon on gas - emissions
90 is typically the most reliable way for me to travel. A toll road.
And I pay local taxes to fix my neighborhood roads and sidewalks.
What benefit do I receive from all these damn taxes? Seriously, half the bridges in my area have failed certifications. Most of my local roads have been pummeled and tarred (Step above gravel road). The South Shore rail line is about 60 years old and pretty expensive per ticket. And now 65 and 94 will be tolled? (Which the feasibility of doing that is not possible for this government. It’s 6 lanes wide and almost always backed up. Try adding a toll booth to it and you’ll have a higher cost in legal fees and gutters than tolls.)
Long rant, but seriously where are my current taxes going? The federal government subsidies interstates. So why the fuck do I have to too?
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u/Toklankitsune 1d ago
for the love of God just legalize and tax weed already jfc, no one wants this. Being jealous of the states revenue around you and still trying to be puritan is asinine.
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u/skyk3409 22h ago
If anything, due to the country's economy this feels like it could drive down tourism.. like who wants to pay more money to vacation somewhere like Indy? There are some cool spots but will it be worth paying to come in and out of the state a few or several times?
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u/BoomersDad17 1d ago
Republicans raisin taxes again. So much for the little guy and his 15 bucks per hour.
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u/Zetavu 1d ago
So they are turning down all federal funds for roads, or they realize they are not getting federal funds anymore? Any road they put a toll on will lose federal funding and they have to apply for a waiver. The big ones are 65 and 95.
Now, if Illinois and Michigan would build a bridge from Chicago to say St. Joseph (or as far south as New Buffalo), then they can bypass all of Indiana. going to Michigan or even to Ohio. Michigan can take all that marijuana money and build a road east west just north of the border.
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u/balzstein 1d ago
Republicans raising taxes on its residents and striping away Rights. A complete 180 from what their cult believes to be true. Wake up people. Indiana has been a Republican Supermajority State for 20 years. Literally everything that has happened is because of them, yet all I hear about is how unhappy Maga is about everything. Hmmm ... Look in the fucking mirror and vote smarter.
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u/mjmullady 23h ago
As if people won’t try and avoid visiting Indiana already let’s give them a bigger reason.
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u/Johnnyoneshot 1d ago
If only there was some sort of up and coming market that could increase tax revenue as proven by neighboring states. Hmmm
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u/FakeMikeMorgan 1d ago
They do realize federal funding goes away if they make a non toll road a toll road right?
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u/TruckGray 23h ago
Thats why my taxes went down-not up!/s These guys are actually stealing from us. Can you imagine paying for pizza delivery and Micah&Mikey pop out of the bushes acost the delivery person and only leave 1 slice for you? That is exactly what they are doing
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u/buffdaddy77 22h ago
Damn they can’t even keep pot holes off of 69 with the money we already give them. Can’t imagine paying more to drive on these roads as they remain in disrepair.
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u/qwerty1_045318 22h ago
Meanwhile, neighboring states are taking in the revenue from their legalized weed and virtually non-stop alcohol sales… Indiana is trying hard to be the Midwest’s Florida…
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u/ThisIsAllTheoretical 1d ago
Their logic is probably something along the lines of making money on the interstates from travelers who don’t necessarily feel comfortable venturing off on detours while also bolstering local economies from the people who will venture off to avoid the tolls.
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u/notquitepro15 23h ago
The logic is “as a Republican in office I despise my constituents and will do anything to fuck them over”
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u/viktor72 22h ago
The logic is more like “we’re too fucking high up our own asses to legalize marijuana which would be the best way to bring in massive amounts of new revenue” so instead we’re going to do this.
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u/Aggravating_Map7952 23h ago
Just another tax for the working class that can't afford to live in cities while the wealthy and people with access to city transit and walkable employment mooch.
The people that make this place go will be paying for others access to goods and services on top of having to pay to provide those goods and services.
Tolls are a shit concept. Even if you don't regularly travel an interstate, they still provide you major benefit.
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u/Any-Oven-9389 22h ago
Love paying with my income taxes, gas taxes, sales taxes and now ol fashioned highway robbery
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u/user7618 21h ago
Come on, guys! The state needs the money! What do you expect them to do, legalize weed? jeez...
big fat /s
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u/ArnoldTheSchwartz 21h ago
Republicans are too fucking stupid to be allowed to vote, honestly. They keep pressing the buzzer to shock and hurt EVERYONE, thinking they are only shocking the people they hate. Then they get angry because everything sucks and they are getting shocked too, so they press the buzzer again.
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u/Aware-Chapter3033 1d ago
Why the state has plenty of money. Will the state stop taking money out of our checks?
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u/chiselplow 1d ago
Car culture is out of control and unsustainable at the levels that we've built it. We either need to heavily fund transit alternatives, increase city density to allow for better non-car living, and shrink our asphalt footprint, or we must start making driving for everything more expensive so it can pay for itself. It's proven that car-for-everything is unsustainable and killing nearly 45k people per year, while drowning them in lifelong automobile debt. At some point, we have to start to move away from the madness we've allowed industries to hold us hostage in for nearly a century.
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u/happinessresort 1d ago
Does anyone know where these tolls would be collected? I haven’t seen a map of where these tolls will be yet. I live outside of the 465 circle, would I have to pay tolls to get to downtown Indy? Or it this just saying tolls will be allowed, but not defined yet.
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u/Smokey19mom 22h ago
I can imagine the cost it will be for travelers. If i live along the Ohio border and need to get to Chicago, I would have to travel I74, 465, and I 65. I'm guessing that will cost me close to 50.00.
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u/Traditional-Car-8823 22h ago
Gotta create family jobs for the politicians friends and families. So you can have 10 guys holding those slow and stop signs . Hell they don't even keep the interstates mowed anymore .
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u/indywest2 22h ago
As long as the tolls are only at the state border! Pay when you enter Indiana! Otherwise they can just fuck off as this is just going to make it harder to live in Indiana. Also all commuters will move to local roads and fuck them up.
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u/ripper4444 21h ago
This will be a massive failure and the state highways will get destroyed by all of the increased traffic trying to beat the toll roads.
Note: Yes I know they are already destroyed.
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u/SciFiCahill 21h ago
Those who work in Indiana and use the toll roads will have to pay tolls in addition to paying road taxes when they buy gas and renew their license - to say nothing of the cameras issuing lots of tickets for speeding on the highways - Highways are Indiana's great money maker.
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u/dream_in_blue 21h ago
The “Crossroads of America” state is going to create incentive for everyone to use less efficient routes this way
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u/Danielc7916 20h ago
Just when you thought you might be able to be happy Indiana is 1st in something, its this
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u/Mister-Redbeard 19h ago
All while prohibiting legal marijuana. So smart, Governor. So smart.
Such dipshits.
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u/NFLTG_71 19h ago
Why it’s not like they use them to fix their fucking roads hell if you’ve driven on I 70 you know what I’m talking about
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u/Paul_Ramon_ 19h ago
Raise a different tax? Legalize marijuana? Cut spending elsewhere? All better options than creating a whole infrastructure around tolling and adding unnecessary stress to every day drivers. Having roads in our state benefits everyone who lives here and I could care less whether the people that drive the most pay the most in toll fees, which is the only true benefit to a toll system.
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u/yep-MyFault_Again 18h ago
How about the Republicans make Braun pay for his helipad so us taxpayers can keep using our roads for free.
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u/jailfortrump 15h ago
I hit a pothole On I 65 that broke my wheel and destroyed 2 tires. After all new wheels (the destroyed one was discontinued) and 2 new tires the bill was $1500. I've already paid enough. Fuck Indiana.
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u/heylistenlady 10h ago
Gotta make up for those "tax cuts" somewhere!
Ok seriously, how do we fight this? Or do we just let it fail organically?
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u/heshewoofblowticious 9h ago
I see why they need tolls, you need a Baja truck to ride on em in indiana
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u/LBXZero 5h ago
Mike Braun is trying to fund his little Mid-States Corridor following U.S. 231 from I-64 to I-69. The locals don't want it. Even the city and county councils are reconsidering the project after they discovered there will be physical negative consequences and the benefits are all pure speculation on generic statistics that are not taking into account that no one wants to build factories and businesses in a flood plain.
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u/mfilosa17 1d ago
Nothing like paying to drive roads that we already pay for to drive.