Cass County communities receive $3.1M for road projects

Indiana’s Community Crossings Matching Grant Program awarded Cass County communities more than $3.1 million in state funding for local road and bridge projects last week.

The Community Crossings Matching Grant Program provides local communities funding for road reconstruction, bridge preservation, intersection improvements and other projects. This year, 245 Indiana communities will receive more than $200 million in state matching grants.

Area grant recipients include Cass County ($1.5 million), Galveston ($660,000) and Logansport ($1,019,762.95).

“Our state and communities are continuing to grow, and the local infrastructure must keep up with the increased demands,” State Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) said. “This program demonstrates Indiana’s commitment to strengthening our infrastructure and improving the overall quality of life for Hoosiers.”

To qualify for funding, smaller municipalities must provide a 25% match in local funds, while larger communities must provide a 50% match. The state requires 50% of available matching funds be awarded annually to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or less.

The Logansport City Council allocated a little more than $1 million toward street revitalization projects during a special meeting in January, days before the deadline.

For the city, renovation work will be different depending on the road. In most cases, they’ll be grinded down to create a smoother surface for repaving. Some roads will also receive things like sensor loops, which interact with traffic lights to make sure cars don’t have to wait at red lights for too long.

The revitalization work will impact Industrial Boulevard, Billiard Drive, Mall Road, Yorktown Road, Cass Plaza Drive, 18th Street from the bridge to the railroad crossing, West Roselawn from East Market Street to George Street, East Main Street from Hoosier Heartland to the light at 18th Street, East Miami Avenue from Sixth Street to West Market Street, West Broadway from Front Street to Central Avenue.

“The Community Crossings Matching Grant Program provides funding to help improve travel for Hoosiers and visitors to our great state,” State Sen. Stacey Donato (R-Logansport) said. “I am glad to see our community leaders taking advantage of this program so we can ensure our local infrastructure is maintained.”

Indiana was recently ranked as the best state in the nation for overall road conditions by Consumer Affairs, noting low rate of traffic fatalities and quality of roads.

Other communities to receive grants include Delphi ($1.5 million); Kokomo ($1.5 million); White County ($1.5 million); Howard County ($1,482,653.42); Carroll County ($1,449,506.25); Monticello ($1,380,165.45); Fulton County ($1,000,560); Pulaski County ($994,531.20); Rochester ($658,477.17); and Winamac ($547,498.55).

Since 2016, Community Crossings has awarded more than $2 billion to improve local roads and bridges across the state.

”Having strong, sustainable infrastructure is necessary to maintain Indiana’s economy and promote growth,” Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) said. “This program helps address our needs and makes communities across the state a better place to call home.”