Indiana governor gets power to create toll roads

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana House committee has approved a bill that would give the governor sole authority to create toll roads.

The House Roads and Transportation Committee approved the measure 7-5 Wednesday, sending it to the full House.

A version of the bill that would have given the governor that power for four years, until 2015, earlier cleared the Senate. The House version eliminates the 2015 expiration, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Contractors, state highway officials and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce told the committee the bill would generate money for road construction. It would allow the governor and the Indiana Department of Transportation or the Indiana Financing Authority to create or convert existing highways to toll roads through public-private partnerships without legislative approval.