Ball State University has been selected to complete a study that will focus on improving the economy along the Indiana Toll Road.
The Indiana Toll Road is a 157-mile road that stretches across the northernmost part of Indiana from its border with Ohio to the Illinois state line, providing connection to the Chicago Skyway and downtown Chicago. There are 21 on and off ramps along the road.
The toll road travels across seven Indiana counties, which make up 20 percent of the state population, Dick Heupel, director of the Economic Development Division at Ball State, said.
Heupel is one of the five people from Ball State involved in the project. He said Ball State was selected out of two other Indiana colleges or universities.
"They liked our more integrated approach, and perhaps we also had a lot of experience in doing similar work in communities," he said.
The goal is to help with developing more jobs and businesses along the road.
"There are a lot of interests along that toll road and it's a complex region with a lot of different perspectives," he said.
Ball State's study is going to look at what has worked elsewhere in stimulating economic growth and at what is missing in the economic disconnection along the toll road, Heupel said.
The Ball State Center for Business and Economic Research and Building a Better Community will be compensated for their participation in this study. The study is projected to be completed in six to 12 months.
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