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BY KEITH BENMAN
kbenman@nwitimes.com
219.933.3326 | Friday, June 30, 2006 | (No comments posted.)
One Harley rider had seen the story in USA Today. A vacationer saw something Wednesday on the Internet. Another motorist had heard about the $3.8 billion deal on National Public Radio just that morning.
Out-of-state motorists Thursday on the Indiana Toll Road knew few specifics of the arrangement that turned the 50-year-old "Main Street of America" over to a Spanish-Australian consortium earlier in the day.
But that didn't stop anyone from having an opinion.
"I think it's a neat idea," said Kerry Phalen, as he and his wife sat down with their two small children outside the westbound Portage travel plaza. "It's definitely a way for the state to get money and to get the maintenance off your hands."
Truckers, who saw tolls for their big rigs increase 24 percent two weeks ago and will see them double in the next three years, generally had a different opinion.
"Where does Indiana get off leasing another country U.S. property?" said trucker Brandon Hott, of Decatur, Ill. "Let's not forget the U.S. interstate system is for military use."
Both political parties made political fodder of the fact that Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of President Eisenhower's signing of the bill that established the U.S. interstate highway system. The bill reimbursed states for 90 percent of the cost of the interstate roadways they built and maintained.
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said he was carrying on Eisenhower's legacy. Democrats were shrill in contending the governor disgraced it.
There were few visible signs of the handoff to the Cintra-Macquarie consortium Thursday on the 157-mile roadway. A steady stream of trucks and cars filled the roadway in both directions, and paving projects went on as usual.
Only the astute observer would notice toll takers had switched from blue blouses to lime green. The toll takers are also contending with new work rules that include a ban on soda pop, food, cell phones, radios and other comforts in booths.
"It's been rough," said one as she made out change at the eastbound Willowcreek toll booth in Portage. "It's real different. And they're going to change more things."
At travel plazas, business went on as usual. A group of executives from Cintra-Macquarie subsidiary ITR Concession Co. had toured the restaurants, gas station, and gift shop at the Portage plaza a few weeks ago.
But since, all has been quiet, workers said. They said motorists will continue to eat, shop and travel as they always have.
"People will travel this road because they need to travel this road," said Christy Fay, who oversees four gift shops on the Indiana Toll Road for Hardee's.
Outside, Larry Lipp was taking a break with Harley-riding friends on his way back from a vacation in Maine. He said he hadn't heard or thought much about the Indiana Toll Road. He had heard about Gov. Rod Blagojevich floating trial balloons about leasing out Illinois toll roads.
"It's like anything else," the biker said. "They always try to sell you on something saying it's a good deal, but then in the long run it costs you."
Phalen, who hails from Calvert County, Maryland, opined that Thursday's big payday justified the deal.
The "$3.8 billion will do a lot of good," Phalen said of the report he had seen on the Internet as he researched road conditions Wednesday.
Trucker Hott climbed up into his white cab and came back with a receipt showing the toll he had just paid running from the Ohio border to Portage: $15.25. Four weeks ago, it would have been about two bucks less.
"The almighty dollar, that's what it's all about," Hott said.
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