Indiana Seeks Federal Approval to Toll I-70
Key Takeaways
- Indiana is seeking federal approval to toll Interstate 70 as a new funding source for transportation projects.
- Tolling could help offset declining gas tax revenues as electric and fuel-efficient vehicles become more common.
- INDOT says funding shortfalls are already leading to project delays and cancellations statewide.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is seeking federal approving to implement tolling on Interstate 70, aiming to generate new revenue from the heavily traveled corridor, particularly from out-of-state drivers.
According to Fox 59 News, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Legislative Director Aaron Wainscott confirmed during a state transportation committee meeting that the agency submitted a tolling waiver request to the federal government last year.
Proposed Tolling Details Remain Unclear
The waiver request has not been made public, leaving uncertainty over whether tolls would apply to the full length of the highway or certain segments. The highway crosses central Indiana and passes through Indianapolis.
While proposed toll rates remain unknown, INDOT’s 2018 tolling strategy showed rates between four to seven cents per mile, with higher rates for trucks and vehicles with more than two axles, according to Fox 59 News. Rates would be the same for in-state and out-of-state drivers.
At the seven-cent rate, a roughly 150-mile trip across Indiana would cost passenger vehicles $10.50 and semi-trailers approximately $57. However, Fox 59 News noted the nearly decade-old rates would likely be higher today.
Revenue Pressures, Funding Challenges Drive Tolling Push
Lawmakers said I-70 is currently the only highway under consideration for tolling. According to WTHR 13 News, toll revenue could help offset declining gas tax collections as more drivers transition to electric and fuel-efficient vehicles.
Indiana enacted legislation in 2025 to streamline INDOT’s ability to create toll roads. Supporters of the policy said it could lead to higher-quality highways statewide. A study projected that tolling could generate approximately $38 billion in revenue through 2050, WHTR 13 News reported.
There is no deadline for the federal government’s response.
During the committee meeting, Wainscott said INDOT is postponing and canceling several road and bridge projects due to declining revenues and federal funds, Fox 59 News reported. The agency did not specify how many projects would be affected.
Sources: Fox 59 News, WTHR 13 News