Four state departments of transportation have come
together to explore the feasibility, potential benefits,
costs and impacts of dedicated truck lanes on I-70
as it connects Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio.
  

We want your input!
Click on the "Get Involved" tab to participate in our online stakeholder briefing.  From there, you can ask questions and make comments about the findings from Phase I of the I-70 Dedicated Truck Lanes Feasibility Study.

 

Background:
In September of 2007, the U.S. Department of Transportation selected 800 miles of I-70 through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio as a "Corridor of the Future," one of six nationally significant transportation corridors.

The four-state Coalition (made up of Departments of Transportation from Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio) applied for and received funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of constructing dedicated truck lanes on I-70.

The I-70 Dedicated truck Lanes Feasibility Study will define and evaluate (1) the need and demand for dedicated truck lanes as one option for improving safety, and (2) whether an invstement in dedicated truck lanes - alone or combined with other modes - is justified.

Dedicated Truck Lanes:
The dedicated truck lanes concept is based on the hypothesis that separating trucks from other traffic could reduce congestion, improve mobility and enhance safety, while improving the flow of goods and encouraging commerce and economic growth throughout the Midwest and the nation.   

 

The  I-70 Corridor:

Interstate 70, one of the heaviest traveled roadways in America, has experienced steady increases in traffic volumes and studies shows this trend will continue.  While private automobile volumes have increased, commercial truck volumes, hauling goods, commodities, and providing services, have increased at an even higher rate. 

Feasibility Study Schedule

 

Phase 1 Completed - July, 2010 - Click on Project Info to see the Phase 1 Final Report and summaries of technical appendices.

 

Phase 2

 

July, 2010 - Work begins on conceptual engineering, environmental assessments and technology options

 

October, 2010 - Work begins on evaluating traffic and potential toll revenues

 

November, 2010 - Work begins on refining potential cost estimates

 

February, 2011 - Work begins on assessing finance and funding

 

April, 2011 - Work on draft documents begins

 

May, 2011 - Work on final documents begins

 

June, 2011 - Final documents completed

800 Miles: The I-70 Dedicated Truck Lanes Feasibility Study
Map showing I-70 from Kansas City, Missouri to the eastern edge of the Ohio state line.

 

Fall 2011 Status:

 

The I-70 Dedicated Truck Lanes Feasibility Study indicates that:

 

1.  There is a business case supporting the construction of DTLs; and

 

2.  DTLs could improve safety, reduce congestion and benefit the regional economy more than either keeping the corridor as-is, or by adding general purpose lanes.

 

Final data, evaluations and findings are completed.  To see detailed information, go to the "Project Info" page.

 

Spring/Summer 2011 Status:

Phase 2 evaluations and documents are being drafted and presented to Coalition members for review and approval.

 

Winter 2010 Status:

Work on Phase 2 has begun.  Phase 2 will provide a more in-depth evaluation of the concept and potential approaches, financing and revenue options, and operational characteristics.

 

Summer 2010 Status:

Summaries of the technical appendices are available on the Project Info page of this website!

 

April 2010 Status:

Draft reports are being finalized and summaries will be posted as completed.  Based on preliminary draft information, the four Coalition states have agreed to conduct Phase 2 of the Dedicated Truck Lanes Feasibility Study.  More information will be posted soon.

 

Winter 2010 Status:  
The team is working on draft reports of their findings for the Coalition states to review.  We expect drafts to be ready for posting to this web site in the first quarter of 2010.

 

Winter 2009 Status:  
The team is now analyzing data on the current conditions and future needs, as well defining scenarios to be tested for feasibility.  We anticipate that we will be posting preliminary reports and data early in 2010.


Fall 2009 Status: 
The study team is gathering data and information about current conditions and potential needs in the corridor.


Do you have a question you'd like to see answered?  Let us know!

Feasibility Study Process
Click for PDF image of the study process