The states announced a combined commitment of about US$17 million in their capital plans to advance development of the project.
Indiana and Kentucky will now seek innovations from the private sector in expediting preliminary design and the required environmental review, with both states splitting costs and oversight. The agreement authorises the Indiana Department of Transportation to publish a formal request for proposals later this summer.
The environmental review and preliminary design will collect public input and study potential routes as well as considering funding sources to build the project. The states anticipate it will take about three years to complete the review and reach conclusions about the route.