Angola, Steuben County get Community Crossings funds

By Amy Oberlin aoberlin@kpcmedia.com

Mar 27, 2019

ANGOLA — Community Crossings funds will augment road construction this spring.

Steuben County received the almost $1 million it applied for and Angola was awarded $539,851.69.

With the $999,903 that will be provided by Community Crossings, administered by the Indiana Department of Transportation, Steuben County will take on 11 projects, the largest of which is repaving Metz Road from U.S. 20 to the Ohio state line. That project is estimated at $652,261.

In addition, Bay View Road, one of the busiest routes during the summer tourist season, will be resurfaced from C.R. 200W to C.R. 300W. Also slated for work are C.R. 100N from Landis Road to C.R. 450W, C.R. 100E, Bill Deller Road, C.R. 150S, Hanselman Road, C.R. 110N, Brassie Court, Saint Andrews Court and Niblic Court.

The first phase of 2019 grants opened in early January and closed Feb. 1. Grants will be awarded two times, with a call for applications occurring again in July. The most a recipient can receive in one year is $1 million.

Launched in 2016, the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program provides funding to cities, towns and counties across Indiana to make improvements to local roads and bridges. It is a partnership between INDOT and Hoosier communities, both urban and rural, to invest in infrastructure projects focused on economic development, jobs and local transportation networks.

Funding is made available to INDOT through revenue collected through the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. State law requires INDOT to allocate at least 50 percent of the total funds to local public agencies that fall within a county with a population of less than 50,000. Steuben County’s population, according to the 2017 census, is 34,484.

A number of Steuben County governmental entities expressed interest in the grants. They are awarded based on need, traffic volume, local support, impact on connectivity and mobility, and economic significance.

Angola and Steuben County must each pay 25 percent of their project costs under Community Crossings guidelines. Funds are distributed by INDOT after contractor’s bids and materials bids are submitted and approved.

Since 2016, the state has awarded $400 million in state funds to support road and bridge projects through Community Crossings. The grants are earmarked for construction only, not engineering or feasibility studies. Drainage work associated with the project is eligible.