The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission is currently facing a significant challenge as it has less money available for road projects than usual. This situation arose after a U.S. Census Bureau ruling that carved out specific areas and redirected federal funding for road projects. Charles Bradsky, the transportation program manager at NIRPC, stated that this year they have 8 million for road projects, which is about .5 million less than the normal amount. Inflation and supply chain issues have also added to the difficulties in funding these projects. Materials are more expensive, and many construction programs still have long lead times, especially those related to lighting and wiring.

Application for Federal Funding and Review Process

Not counting public transit, NIRPC received a diverse range of applications for federal funding for road projects. Hammond submitted five applications, NIRPC itself had four, Gary and Cedar Lake each had three, Lake and LaPorte counties had two each, and Burns Harbor, Crown Point, Merrillville, Portage, Schererville, and Valparaiso each had one. In March, the Transportation Committee will review these applications and make a recommended list of projects to be included in the 2026 transportation improvement plan. This list will determine which projects will ultimately receive federal funding.NIRPC typically prepares a five-year plan, even though the federal government only requires a four-year plan. The Indiana Department of Transportation encourages a five-year plan as it recognizes that projects can take longer than four years to be completed.

Safety Goals and Metrics

In the region, the number of fatal traffic accidents is on the rise in Indiana. However, NIRPC has set a goal to reduce these accidents. NIRPC Director of Transportation Tom Vander Woude pointed out that federal rules require the agency to set targets lower than existing goals rather than adjusting them to reflect the increasing total statewide.Grace Benninger, the spatial analyst, reported that total crashes in the third quarter were down by about 180 compared to 2023. Out of the 5,739 crashes between July and September, 18 were fatal and 1,054 involved injuries. The new goals adopted by NIRPC aim to decrease the targeted number of fatalities in 2025 from 926 in 2024 to 812. The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is now set at 1.009, a slight change from 1.1 in 2024. The number of serious injuries is set to be 3,032 in 2025, down from 3,281 in 2024. The rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is now 3.402 compared to 4.05 in 2024. The number of serious injuries and fatalities for pedestrians and bicyclists is set to be 363 in 2025, from 402 this year.Porter County Surveyor Kevin Breitzke emphasized that the agency is striving to eliminate all injuries and fatalities on the roads. Realistically, this means focusing on reducing unnecessary fatalities and injuries. INDOT's "Phone down, buckle up" campaign is an example of efforts to achieve this goal.

Other Metrics in Transportation Improvement Plan

In addition to safety goals, NIRPC's transportation improvement plan also looks at paving conditions and reducing air pollution. These aspects are crucial for the overall improvement and sustainability of the transportation system.Doug Ross, a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune, has been closely following these developments and providing in-depth coverage.