Valpo to partner with INDOT for more than $18M in improvements on U.S. 30

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Costas

Updated: February 27, 2012 9:57AM

VALPARAISO — The city will take full control of Lincolnway within its borders and, in exchange, the Indiana Department of Transportation will partner with the city for more than $20 million in benefits to Valparaiso.

Mayor Jon Costas announced this plan, which includes working with INDOT to make improvements on U.S. 30, in his State of the City address on Wednesday.

“It makes the most sense for our city to take over responsibility of Lincolnway as it runs through the heart of our city and is our signature street,” Costas said.

The city will be able to manage 5.6 miles of what the state considers part of Indiana 130 when the city takes responsibility after this winter.

According to a news release handed out after the speech, Valparaiso will get $2 million for taking over the maintenance and daily operations of the Lincolnway portion of Indiana 130 and has received from INDOT a pledge of $18 million in state and federal funds for U.S. 30.

Costas will ask the City Council to deposit the $2 million into the city’s Rainy Day Fund for emergencies or needed work.

Design work for U.S. 30 will begin in 2012, and construction is scheduled for 2013-14.

Costas said that for many people, coming through Valparaiso on U.S. 30 is the only way they know the city.

“In a broader sense, Route 30 has become our new Main Street,” Costas said. “It must better reflect our values and quality of life.”

He referred to the “extensive improvement plan” the city completed last year, dividing U.S. 30 into eight zones that would be developed to their own needs, such as the university area, the intersection of Washington Street with U.S. 30 and the Haymarket area to the north, which the plan calls for turning into an artist colony area.

“While the exact projects will be determined in partnership with INDOT, they will focus on improving traffic flow and safety, strengthening existing infrastructure, landscape upgrades and environmental enhancements,” Costas said.

He predicted three or four years of work, and noted plans the city already made to include pedestrian overpasses.

Costas unveiled other planned improvements in his speech, such as Vision Valparaiso 2013.

The city staff is planning and researching what will become a long-range plan for the city, stretching over decades and using input from all citizens.

“This vision will serve as a compass for future mayors and city councils,” he said.

The mayor plans to unveil the plan this year to begin the process in 2013.

The city is also using Major Moves money from the leasing of the Indiana Toll Road to fund the Indiana 49 overpass, which is scheduled to be built later this year at Vale Park Road.

And he mentioned Valparaiso has a 7 percent unemployment rate compared to the rest of the country.

The city plans to put the entire nine-page State of the City address on its website.