02.01.08
Goode Hails I-69 As Top Priority For Progress

By Thomas B. Langhorne
Courier & Press Staff Writer

The only announced Republican challenger to Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., pledged Thursday that he will make Interstate 69 his "No. 1 priority for economic development" if elected. Greg Goode, who resigned as Indiana State University's chief governmental affairs officer to challenge Ellsworth, told reporters he would seek a seat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to pursue federal road money for the 8th District.

"Upon election, I will not rest until I have helped find every federal dollar that can be found to build upon the work started by (Gov. Mitch Daniels' transportation initiative) Major Moves," Goode said during a news conference in Evansville.

Ellsworth could not be reached for comment, but he has said he is a strong supporter of I-69. On July 20, Ellsworth cosigned a letter from more than 50 members of Congress to the U.S. Department of Transportation seeking to have I-69 named a "Corridor of the Future."

The designation, which was granted, paved the way for $800,000 in additional federal funding for the project.

"Completing I-69 will significantly enhance the quality of life of our constituents and the nation," the letter stated.

Goode did not mention Ellsworth's name Thursday, but after the news conference he was asked whether he believes the first-term Democratic congressman has aggressively pursued federal funds for I-69.

"Ultimately, I think it's for the voters of Vanderburgh County, the voters of Warrick County, of Daviess County, of Greene County, Gibson County, those counties that are especially affected by the I-69 corridor to determine whether or not their congressman can and should be doing everything that he can to help find federal solutions to make I-69 a reality," Goode said.

The Indiana Department of Transportation remains on schedule to break ground on the first two miles of the 13-mile-long first section of I-69 from Evansville to Oakland City, Ind., in late summer or early fall.

Major Moves allocated $700 million for I-69 construction from I-64 near Evansville to U.S. 231 just north of the Crane Naval Warfare Center. Goode estimated at least another $1.3 billion will have to be found somewhere to complete the I-69 corridor that will connect Evansville to Indianapolis.

A spokesman for Hoosier Voices for I-69, a statewide advocacy organization that aims to complete I-69 in Indiana, said the $1.3 billion estimate is not unreasonable.

"It's probably a good ballpark figure," said Steve Schaefer, the group's executive director.

Schaefer is a former Republican legislative candidate who was once an aide to former Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., but he did not criticize Ellsworth's record of support for I-69 or praise Goode.

"We've let (Ellsworth) know we wanted to be in communication with his office," Schaefer said. "We're going to look at both (federal and state) pots of money."

Schaefer and state transportation department spokesman Andy Dietrick said it is very difficult to precisely track the amount of federal money devoted to I-69 over the years.

"The federal government has designated I-69 as a corridor from Texas to Michigan - that's an important step," Dietrick said.

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