The leaders of two neighboring communities with mutual U.S. 30/Mississippi Street corridor concerns are hoping to form a joint municipal task force.
The Hobart City Council on Wednesday approved a memorandum of agreement toward the formation of a joint task force with the town of Merrillville.
The Merrillville Town Council will be presented the proposal at its workshop meeting on Monday, Merrillville Town Council President Rick Bella said.
A vote by the Merrillville Town Council could follow at its next Town Council meeting.
“We have common goals so let’s work together,” Bella said.
Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun said the idea to form the task force was initiated after a discussion he had with Bella.
“Their (the Merrillville) Town Council president, Rick Bella, and I had this vision to share ideas and be on the same page when it comes to U.S. 30,” Huddlestun said.
Bella said the chief concern is traffic issues, especially with the possibility of a convention center being built in Hobart, north of U.S. 30 and east of Mississippi Street, on the border of both communities.
“Our main concern is traffic because it’s such a big issue,” Bella said.
According to the proposal, the executive summary reads in part: “The neighboring municipalities of Merrillville and Hobart share a series of critical infrastructure and transit issues, affecting not only their residents but also the broader community of Northwest Indiana. To address these issues, Town Council President Rick Bella of Merrillville and Mayor Josh Huddlestun of Hobart propose the formation of a joint task force comprising town and city employees, officials and local stakeholders. This collaborative effort aims to create more cohesive transportation systems, enhance road safety, and better manage pedestrian flow while collectively soliciting state funding for road projects that will serve both communities and contribute to regional connectivity and economic growth.”
Key focus areas, according to the proposal, include traffic flow and congestion reduction, pedestrian safety and accessibility, shuttle services for inter-town business connectivity, and the securing of state and regional funding.
The task force would include a range of representatives from both communities including municipal officials, local business leaders, representatives from the Indiana Department of Transportation, public safety officials, and community stakeholders.
Once the proposal is approved, the implementation would be in four phases with the first phase taking one to three months and the final phase 12 to 24 months.
Huddlestun said there have been informal discussions in the past about forming a task force by the two communities but nothing has ever been formalized until now.
“We want to make sure we are all on the same page, It will make us both strong as communities,” Huddlestun said.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.