By RICK CALLAHAN

Associated Press Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Opponents of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ proposed tollway bypass of Indianapolis harshly criticized the project Tuesday, urging members of a Senate committee not to rush to endorse legislation that would grant the governor authority to pursue it and another tollway.

State highway officials, elected officials and other supporters testified before the Senate’s transportation committee first, telling the panel the proposed Indiana Commerce Connector around Indianapolis and Illiana Expressway in northwestern Indiana would relieve congestion and fuel economic growth.

Opponents of the bill, however, said the promises by the Indiana Department of Transportation were premature and that it was uncertain how much economic growth the proposed privately built and operated tollways would generate.

And they said it’s unclear whether the new tollways would significantly reduce traffic on some of the state’s congested highways.

“Governor Daniels and INDOT are trying to sell the public, hardworking Hoosiers, a bottle of fake Viagra,” said Pat Andrews of Camby. “They want you to get all excited about what you think you’re buying but they don’t want you to look too close to find out what you’re actually buying.”

The bill’s key provision would be transferring to the two proposed highways the tolling authority that the General Assembly granted Daniels last year for part of the planned Interstate 69 extension linking Indianapolis and Evansville.

Committee chairman Sen. Tom Wyss, the bill’s sponsor, said he had expected the legislation to go to a vote Tuesday. But Wyss, R-Fort Wayne, decided on a delay after hearing from other legislators who had questions and who are considering amendments.

The vote has now been delayed at least one week.

“I want everybody to know what we’re talking about and all the nuances to it,” Wyss said.

When he announced the Indiana Commerce Connector in November, Daniels said the state could collect about $1 billion by allowing a private entity to pay to build and operate it as a tollway that would loop 75 miles east and south of Indianapolis.

He said that money would help the state pay for the I-69 extension and allow its entire route to be a free of tolls. He later proposed the Illiana Expressway that would run from I-94 near Michigan City south of Valparaiso and Gary to I-57 south of Chicago.

INDOT commissioner Karl Browning told the panel the legislation is “a bold initiative that is right on the money” for dealing with congestion in central and northwestern Indiana.

He was followed by a parade of business and government officials who offered support for the bill, including Dennis Malloy, executive director of the Hancock County Economic Development Council. He said the Commerce Connector that would cut through the county immediately east of Indianapolis would create new jobs and expand the county’s tax base.

“The competition for new development is fierce and it is global. This highway would be a valuable asset for us,” Malloy said.

But residents who live in the areas where the proposed tollways would pass joined with environmentalists and activists who oppose the I-69 in criticizing the legislation.

Several said lawmakers were moving too quickly in considering additional privately operated tollways after passing legislation last year that leased the Indiana Toll Road to a private consortium for 75 years at a cost of $3.8 billion.

“The rush to privatization is like driving too fast on a foggy morning. We risk collision if we go too fast,” said Tom Tokarski, president of the anti-I-69 group Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads.

Rob Schafstall of Franklin said that approval of the tollways was being considered long before any analyses of the economic impacts, routes and other questions about them had been studied.

“You are making a critical decision at the beginning of the process,” he said. “There are no studies done. All we know are hunches.”

Tim Maloney, the executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, said the state needs to explore the idea of commuter trains to alleviate highway congestion — not just “new and bigger roads.” He urged lawmakers to move slowly on the tolling proposal.

“Let’s not abandon the legislative oversight on this,” Maloney said.

Posted 1/24/2007