Ball State University + Economic Development

Prepared by Building Better Communities Ball State University | October 2012

Indiana Toll Road Economic Development

Corridor Study

Purposes▸ Evaluate the Indiana Toll Road Corridor relative to

other surface transportation corridor-focused economic development efforts, both in the US and internationally

▸ Understand the successes/failures of other corridor initiatives

▸ Integrate opportunities in existing commercial economic activity and infrastructure to leverage other successes.

▸ Identify potential new/emergent commercial opportunities for the region.

Background▸ The Toll Road Corridor is 157 miles long and has

22 exits.

▸ It traverses seven counties with a combined population of more than 1.2 million, 20% of the state’s population.

▸ It borders three states and the City of Chicago

▸ The Chicago National Transportation Analysis Area (NTAR) ships and receives more than 1.5 billion tons of goods – more than one-third of the nation’s rail and overland truck traffic.

Background▸ Toll Road Corridor is heavily dependent on

manufacturing for employment.

▸ Over the past 30 years, manufacturing employment has declined 45%: from 200,000 to 110,000.

▸ Primary metals, a key sector, is expected to continue its decline in employment.

Background ▸ Unemployment rate:

▸ U.S: 9.6% Indiana: 10.2% 6 counties: 11.0%-13.5%

▸ Per Capita Personal Income:▸ U.S: $39,937 Indiana: $33,981 6 counties: $19,938-

$33,322

▸ Annual average population growth:▸ U.S: .83% Indiana: .48% Corridor: .09%

▸ Porter County:▸ Average unemployment: 8.8%▸ Average per capita personal income similar to the U.S.

Methodology▸ Phase 1: preliminary research and

analysis▸ Evaluate whether economic development

opportunities exist along the Corridor

Phase 1

Methodology▸ Phase 2: in-depth research and analysis

▸ Modified Delphi focus group facilitation▸ In-depth interviews▸ Survey research▸ Economic research ▸ Literature review and summary of area

economic development and transportation plans

▸ Prepare final reports summarizing findings and conclusions of in-depth research

Methodology▸ Phase 3: Delineate sound and research-

based economic development objectives and strategies:Objective 1: Establish the Indiana Toll Road

Corridor as the nexus of growth in transportation investment throughout central North America over the coming decades, yielding concomitant economic development improvement across the Corridor.

Methodology▸ Phase 3: Delineate sound and research-

based economic development objectives and strategies:Strategy 1: Remove barriers to transportation

efficiency throughout the corridor.▸ Coalesce a transportation expert group to

pursue private and public-sector solutions.▸ Develop a long-range plan.▸ Ensure continued viability of commuter rail.

Methodology▸ Phase 3: Delineate sound and research-

based economic development objectives and strategies:Objective 2: Diversify business

development efforts on a sub-Corridor regional basis.

Methodology▸ Phase 3: Delineate sound and research-

based economic development objectives and strategies:Strategy 2: Grow a diverse suite of

businesses within sub-Corridor regions. ▸ Select sector-based diversification

strategies based on regional goals:▸ growth in production, investment, and taxes,▸ wage growth, or ▸ employment growth.

Methodology▸ Phase 3: Delineate sound and research-

based economic development objectives and strategies:Objective 3: Position the Indiana Toll Road

Corridor as a preferred location for economic development activity

Methodology▸ Phase 3: Delineate sound and research-

based economic development objectives and strategies:Strategy 3: Develop and promote a

common marketing message and brand designed to accurately represent the unique blend of economic development assets available in the Corridor.

Selected results▸ Development of a Corridor-wide coalition of

economic developers and transportation stakeholders.

▸ One Corridor-county ED Corporation identified the Indiana Toll road as an important asset to leverage in its economic development strategy.

▸ Further supported the case for major new intermodal investment already proposed within the corridor.

Selected results

▸ The report provides a set of regional economic development stakeholders with third-party, independent research quantifying the economic costs of congestion in the Corridor.

Selected results

▸ Relieving transportation congestion – a particularly important issue and opportunity in the western end of the Corridor where it connects with Chicago – is provided with empirical support for additional state and federal transportation funding to realize a potential $4 billion in economic efficiencies.

Selected results▸ Important transportation providers in the

Corridor received the final report:▸ Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, a publicly-owned freight

water port on Lake Michigan; ▸ the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Commuter

Railroad; ▸ the South Bend Municipal Airport Authority; ▸ transportation-dependent industries negatively

affected by the transportation congestion in and around the Chicago-Indiana segment of the Corridor; and

▸ the IN Toll Road Commission and contracted operator.

BBC/Ball State UniversityFrom Ball State’s Strategic Plan 2012-2017

“Advance Indiana through student engagement and faculty expertise”

“Ball State will continue to emphasize learning and scholarship that synthesize disciplinary knowledge with application to today’s most complex challenges. Students and faculty will turn knowledge into judgment and judgment into action through projects and programs that benefit business, community, and government partners across the state.”

Ball State University + Economic Development