The $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by President Joe Biden late last year was a game changer for Indiana, according to CNBC. It is a major factor in CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business rankings. Believe it or not, Indiana ranked No. 1 in the nation in the infrastructure category on CNBC’s list of top states for business.
While you might be playing your own version of dodge the potholes, under their methodology, CNBC says Indiana is the best. They measured roads, bridges, ports and airports, as well as water and electric utilities, sites available for development, and sustainability.
One of Indiana’s biggest strengths in this category is its freight-shipping capacity, which is among the best in the country. Indiana transports 724 million tons of freight each year, according to INDOT, the fifth highest in the nation. Carrying some 277 million tons of cargo per year by rail, Indiana’s rail network is among the busiest in the nation. It helps the Hoosier State earn its title as the Crossroads of America.
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Indiana’s central location serves it well too as the state is strategically located, with more than 110 million people located within a day’s drive. Hoosiers endure less extreme weather than some of our Midwest neighbors, with low risks of wildfires or floods.
INDOT’s construction budget has approximately doubled since the “Next Level Roads” program began, from about $1 billion in 2016 to just over $2 billion in 2021. Roughly $8.8 billion from the federal $1.2 trillion infrastructure package should head to Indiana over the next five years.
Indiana falls short on the quality of its water utility, which is the only category in which the state ranked in the bottom half.
Photographer: Cheney Orr/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Indiana’s Score For “Top State For Business” Rank
2022 Infrastructure score: 274 out of 380 points (Top States Grade: A+)
U.S. population within 500 miles: 110,877,487
Bridges in poor condition: 6%
Roads in unacceptable condition: 6%
Broadband access: 87%
Power outages per year: 3 hours
Indiana also ranked first in the nation in 2019 and 2016, and has been ranked among the top five for six consecutive years.
