Latest news with #HouseEnrolledAct1461
Indianapolis Star
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Crews installing higher speed limit signs on I-465. Here's how long it will take
Can't drive 55? That's OK on most of 465, where the speed limit is bumping to 65 mph. Crews out along I-465 on July 1 are updating signage with the higher limit. The 10 mph speed limit increase came with the passage of House Enrolled Act 1461, signed into law May 1 by Gov. Mike Braun. HEA 1461 is largely a major road funding bill that also clears the path for new toll roads across the state. The I-465 speed limit provision was added while the bill was in the Indiana Senate. The work should cause "minimal traffic impacts" and drivers should expect daytime shoulder closures, the Indiana Department of Transportation said in a news release. Installation is set to take about a week, weather permitting. Once the signs are installed, the speed limit will increase on most of I-465, with exceptions "due to existing construction or design limitations," INDOT said. The speed limit will increase in construction areas once work is complete.
Indianapolis Star
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
The speed limit on parts of I-465 increases on July 1. Here's what you need to know
Central Indiana drivers will see new speed limits on most of Interstate 465 starting on July 1. State lawmakers approved a bill earlier this year that raises the speed limit on I-465 from 55 to 65 miles per hour. Gov. Mike Braun signed the bill into law on May 1. It's just one of a series of bills from the 2025 legislative session that are slated to go into effect in July. Here's what you need to know. On May 1, Gov. Mike Braun signed House Enrolled Act 1461 into law, which raises the speed limit on I-465 to 65 miles per hour, a 10 miles per hour increase. HEA 1461 is largely a major road funding bill that also clears the path for new toll roads across the state. The I-465 speed limit provision was added while the bill was in the Indiana Senate. The speed limit will rise to 65 miles per hour on the majority of I-465 on July 1, but according to the Indiana Department of Transportation, there will be some areas with exceptions. Those spots include: On or after Tues. 7/1, the speed limit on the majority of I-465 in Indianapolis will increase from 55 to 65 mph following passage of HEA 1461 during the 2025 legislative session. Areas with exceptions are noted on the map below. Read more here: What laws take effect on July 1?: Bans, budget cuts and speed limit changes on I-465 We are not telling on anyone, but... INDOT in 2021 recorded speeds for 13 days on a portion of I-465 on the northwest side. Of the 1.1 million vehicles recorded, INDOT found that 96% were driving over the 55 miles-per-hour speed limit. While the I-465 speed limit is rising, that doesn't mean drivers should ignore the lower speed limits in work zones, such as the I-465/I-69 construction zone. A 2023 bill allowed INDOT to launch speed camera programs in work zones. Drivers going 11 miles per hour above the posted speed limit in a work zone can receive financial penalties. Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.
Indianapolis Star
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Bans, budget cuts and speed limit changes on I-465: Here are the laws taking effect July 1
Lawmakers' mad dash to wrap-up the 2025 legislative session on time saw a long list of last-minute changes in April. Now many of them are taking effect on July 1. As they raced to tie-up lose ends, legislators slashed public broadcasting funding and rolled back DEI at public colleges. They also adjusted speed limits and scrutinized lab-grown chicken. For those still reeling, here is everything you need to know about the latest laws on the books. New guidelines on the purchase of vehicles by state entities will take effect July 1 thanks to House Enrolled Act 1518. The legislation requires vehicles to be a government, base or standard model and may not be from a 'luxury or semi-luxury brand' if an alternative exists, with some exceptions. The bill came after Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith each bought expensive vehicles with taxpayer dollars, including a $90,000 GMC Yukon Denali and a nearly $88,000 Chevy Tahoe High Country. Motorists will soon be able to drive up to 65 miles per hour on I-465 without risking a speeding ticket thanks to House Enrolled Act 1461. Hoosiers have long lamented the 55 miles per hour speed limit on I-465, claiming it is too slow for the flow of traffic on the loop. Data seems to back up the claim: in December 2020, the Indiana Department of Transportation recorded driving speeds on I-465 for 13 days, finding that 96% of drivers were going over the speed limit. The law also makes the process of establishing toll roads easier and gives local governments more tools to pad their road budgets. Transgender women participating in college athletics in Indiana will no longer be able to play on women's teams after July 1. House Enrolled Act 1041 follows a 2022 law that prohibited transgender girls from girls' K-12 sports. However, there are less than 10 transgender athletes who are active in the NCAA, the association's president told a Senate committee in December 2024. None of them live in Indiana, according to State Affairs. Hoosiers with a 'red flag' record will now be allowed to wipe the slate clean should a judge rule they are no longer dangerous. Red flag laws allow law enforcement to seize weapons from people police believe pose a threat to themselves or others even if they haven't committed a crime. If a judge agrees, they can prohibit the individual from owning and purchasing guns. If a judge later decides the person is no longer dangerous, they can order the guns returned and gun rights restored. Prior to House Enrolled Act 1137, cases remained public. Beginning July 1, people will have the opportunity to ask a judge to seal and expunge their 'red flag' record if they're found to be no longer dangerous. A law that bans college students from using student IDs as voter identification — Senate Enrolled Act 10 — takes effect July 1, though its impacts likely won't be felt until the primary election in May 2026. Critics of the law fear it will stop college students from voting, particularly out-of-state students who don't have an Indiana driver's license. That concern sparked a lawsuit in May that alleges the law is unconstitutional. Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts will be severely curtailed by a new Indiana law. Beginning July 1, educational institutions, state agencies and health profession licensing boards will no longer be able to spend state money on DEI initiatives. The law, Senate Enrolled Act 289, also prohibits actions taken based on an individual's 'personal characteristic,' defined as a person's race, sex, color, ancestry, national origin or religion. These actions include things like hiring or firing staff, granting student aid or denying a license. Though the law has not yet taken effect, universities began scaling back DEI efforts as early as January While the offices are closed, some programs within the offices continue to operate. For example, IU's six culture centers are now listed under the Office of Student Life. House Enrolled Act 1393 requires county jails to report individuals to the sheriff if there is probable cause to believe that the person does not have legal status starting July 1. The law comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Todd Rokita against Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté, who Rokita alleges limited personnel's ability to cooperate with state and federal authorities on immigration matters. House Enrolled Act 1425 bans the sale and manufacturing of lab-grown meat — a food product made from animal stem cells and arranged in a structure that mimics the taste and texture of meat products — for two years. Once the ban expires, the new law requires manufacturers to label their product with the phrase, 'This is an imitation meat product.' U.S. regulators approved the sale of lab-grown chicken in 2023, but it's not yet widely available. Advocates of the product say it would be better for the environment and animal welfare. Legislators in favor of the bill expressed skepticism about the product and said the ban would provide more time to learn more. Another election-related change coming to Indiana is Senate Enrolled Act 287, which allows candidates to note party affiliation next to their name on the ballot when running for school board. The law allows candidates to identify as independents or to leave a blank space by their name if they don't identify with a party or don't wish to disclose an affiliation. It also states that a straight ticket vote will not include any candidates running for school board, so voters must still examine that section separately. Intoxicated minors who need medical help will no longer receive a citation for underage drinking once this student-spearheaded lifeline law expansion takes effect July 1. Originally passed in 2012, Indiana's lifeline law was designed to encourage young people to call 911 when they see someone in need of medical attention by providing them with criminal immunity for underage drinking. But for 13 years, the law did not offer the same immunity to the person requiring medical attention. Senate Bill 74 will now protect both parties from criminal prosecution. The new state budget included a litany of last-minute changes, such as public health cuts and a provision that gave the governor greater control over the Indiana University Board of Trustees. Among the new additions was a clause that eliminated state funding for public broadcasting, a blow to stations already facing threats to federal funding. Some organizations have been forced to make changes. Lakeshore Public Media announced in June that they were cutting production and laying off staff because of the funding loss. Another part of the budget bill could eliminate more than half of degrees at Indiana public colleges if enrollment numbers don't increase or exceptions are not approved. This provision requires degrees to have an average of 15 graduates per year to continue being offered. The requirement puts degrees ranging from American Studies to Agronomy and Crop Science at risk.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I-65 fiery truck crashes ignite conversation about tolling, expanding highway
Recent fiery truck accidents on Interstate 65 in southern Lake and Jasper counties in the spring resulted in long traffic delays and asphalt repairs, which have resurfaced questions about tolling and expanding I-65. House Enrolled Act 1461, authored by state Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, would allow the state to charge tolls on all Indiana interstate highways, including Interstate 80/94 and I-65. Specifically, the law allows the Indiana Department of Transportation to submit a request to the Federal Highway Administration for a waiver to toll lanes on interstate highways. If the waiver is granted, the legislature would not have to enact a statute for the Indiana finance authority to take action on tolling. Indiana uses fuel tax to fund road projects, Braun said at an event in Munster last month, but as vehicles become more fuel efficient drivers have been buying less gas. Braun said he 'probably will' ask for federal approval to toll Indiana highways. 'It's going to have to be considered because otherwise, I don't think we can maintain our main arteries,' Braun said. 'Asking for the ability to do it doesn't mean you're going to do it comprehensively. You do it selectively, where the need is the greatest.' Indiana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Cassandra Bajek said Monday that the department hasn't received information from the governor's office or the legislature about beginning to toll roads in Indiana. 'That question is still being answered. We're still waiting to hear what their intent was with that one,' Bajek said. Expanding I-65 to three lanes, for both northbound and southbound traffic, 'is always a topic of conversation' at INDOT, 'however we do not currently have a project in place to do so' in Northwest Indiana, Bajek said. A truck fire in April led to paint cans exploding from the vehicle and halting traffic on I-65 southbound. A truck driver pulled over near mile-marker 231 on I-65 southbound around 1 p.m. April 21. The driver noticed the brakes on one side of the tractor were glowing red and started on fire, according to an Indiana State Police news release. The driver ran to get a fire extinguisher from the cab, but when she returned the fire had spread to the trailer, which was filled with paint cans, according to the release. The paint cans 'ignited and caused an intense fire that quickly spread to the adjacent trees and even caught the asphalt roadway surface on fire,' according to the release. As crews worked to put out the fire, there was a moment when north and southbound lanes were closed because of the smoke. When the scene was cleared, a large section of asphalt had to be replaced, according to the release. The highway was closed for approximately 16 hours, Bajek said. A semi-truck crash in May led to a fire, closed I-65 near Lowell for hours and needed asphalt repair. A UPS truck crashed while headed northbound on I-65 near mile-marker 238.8 May 17 after exiting a construction zone lane restriction. The truck 'experienced a sudden tire failure on one of the steer tires' which resulted in the driver losing control of the truck, according to an Indiana State Police news release. The truck and trailer overturned, which blocked the entire roadway, and caught fire. The driver was able to get out of the truck but was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the release. The asphalt was damaged and deemed unsafe for traffic, according to the release, so it had to be replaced and refilled. The road was closed for approximately 10 hours, Bajek said. As a result, beginning in June, the Lake County Sheriff's Department Traffic Unit began enforcing operations targeting overweight vehicles that are damaging roadways and impacting driver safety along the state line in southwest Lake County, according to a Lake County Sheriff's Department news release. The department will send out more than 60 warning notices to companies and drivers of vehicles in violation of weight limits. Drivers will receive tickets if they continue to ignore weight restrictions on county roadways, according to the sheriff's release. In Lake County, there is a 15-ton limit on 197th, 185th and 151st from U.S. 41 west to State Line Road, according to the sheriff's release. 'We are taking this proactive approach to help reduce the kind of heavy traffic on weight restricted roads that causes significant wear and tear on the roads,' Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said in the release. 'The accelerated degradation of the roads leads to increased maintenance costs for taxpayers.' akukulka@
Chicago Tribune
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
I-65 fiery truck crashes ignite conversation about tolling, expanding highway
Recent fiery truck accidents on Interstate 65 in southern Lake and Jasper counties in the spring resulted in long traffic delays and asphalt repairs, which have resurfaced questions about tolling and expanding I-65. House Enrolled Act 1461, authored by state Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, would allow the state to charge tolls on all Indiana interstate highways, including Interstate 80/94 and I-65. Specifically, the law allows the Indiana Department of Transportation to submit a request to the Federal Highway Administration for a waiver to toll lanes on interstate highways. If the waiver is granted, the legislature would not have to enact a statute for the Indiana finance authority to take action on tolling. Indiana uses fuel tax to fund road projects, Braun said at an event in Munster last month, but as vehicles become more fuel efficient drivers have been buying less gas. Braun said he 'probably will' ask for federal approval to toll Indiana highways. 'It's going to have to be considered because otherwise, I don't think we can maintain our main arteries,' Braun said. 'Asking for the ability to do it doesn't mean you're going to do it comprehensively. You do it selectively, where the need is the greatest.' Indiana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Cassandra Bajek said Monday that the department hasn't received information from the governor's office or the legislature about beginning to toll roads in Indiana. 'That question is still being answered. We're still waiting to hear what their intent was with that one,' Bajek said. Expanding I-65 to three lanes, for both northbound and southbound traffic, 'is always a topic of conversation' at INDOT, 'however we do not currently have a project in place to do so' in Northwest Indiana, Bajek said. A truck fire in April led to paint cans exploding from the vehicle and halting traffic on I-65 southbound. A truck driver pulled over near mile-marker 231 on I-65 southbound around 1 p.m. April 21. The driver noticed the brakes on one side of the tractor were glowing red and started on fire, according to an Indiana State Police news release. The driver ran to get a fire extinguisher from the cab, but when she returned the fire had spread to the trailer, which was filled with paint cans, according to the release. The paint cans 'ignited and caused an intense fire that quickly spread to the adjacent trees and even caught the asphalt roadway surface on fire,' according to the release. As crews worked to put out the fire, there was a moment when north and southbound lanes were closed because of the smoke. When the scene was cleared, a large section of asphalt had to be replaced, according to the release. The highway was closed for approximately 16 hours, Bajek said. A semi-truck crash in May led to a fire, closed I-65 near Lowell for hours and needed asphalt repair. A UPS truck crashed while headed northbound on I-65 near mile-marker 238.8 May 17 after exiting a construction zone lane restriction. The truck 'experienced a sudden tire failure on one of the steer tires' which resulted in the driver losing control of the truck, according to an Indiana State Police news release. The truck and trailer overturned, which blocked the entire roadway, and caught fire. The driver was able to get out of the truck but was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the release. The asphalt was damaged and deemed unsafe for traffic, according to the release, so it had to be replaced and refilled. The road was closed for approximately 10 hours, Bajek said. As a result, beginning in June, the Lake County Sheriff's Department Traffic Unit began enforcing operations targeting overweight vehicles that are damaging roadways and impacting driver safety along the state line in southwest Lake County, according to a Lake County Sheriff's Department news release. The department will send out more than 60 warning notices to companies and drivers of vehicles in violation of weight limits. Drivers will receive tickets if they continue to ignore weight restrictions on county roadways, according to the sheriff's release. In Lake County, there is a 15-ton limit on 197th, 185th and 151st from U.S. 41 west to State Line Road, according to the sheriff's release. 'We are taking this proactive approach to help reduce the kind of heavy traffic on weight restricted roads that causes significant wear and tear on the roads,' Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said in the release. 'The accelerated degradation of the roads leads to increased maintenance costs for taxpayers.'
