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Road funding plan will increase gas prices this summer

Posted at 10:16 PM, Apr 19, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-20 10:40:50-04

INDIANAPOLIS – A final plan to fund roads in Indiana will hike up the price of gas this summer.

The proposal negotiated by members of the Indiana House and Senate will also include new fees, such as a possible $15 charge for all registered vehicles.

Lawmakers said details on exact fees and amounts will not be revealed until a later date.

"I hope long-term that the citizens see orange barrels out there and see some infrastructure projects that they think are long overdue,” said Rep. Tim Brown.

Gov. Eric Holcomb referred to the proposal as a “sustainable” source of funding.

Road funding and infrastructure were two of the main topics in Holcomb’s 2017 State of the State in January.

During the address, Holcomb reiterated his support for a range of options – including fuel tax increases, new tolling options, fees for alternative-fuel vehicles and creative public-private partnerships.

“The fact is, existing sources of revenue are just not keeping up,” said Holcomb. “I’m a believer that every time you ask a taxpayer for a dollar, you better be darn sure you need it and are going to use it effectively for its intended purpose. And here’s a case that if we ask Hoosiers to invest a little more, to meet the need, the return is going to be well worth it.”

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