Document xdvo362vGD6yw9mnYVnkpkqkJ

Whiting City of Whiting Mayor Steve Spebar 1443 119th Street Post Office Box 591 Whiting, Indiana 46394 219-659-7700 phone 219-473-4452 fax whitingindiana.com May 7, 2025 Mr. Spencer, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the ongoing impasse on funding from the Federal Highway Administration, which has impacted on the City of Whiting's ability to advance critical infrastructure projects. Our community was awarded a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant for $200,000 to conduct a Safety Action Plan for our community. As the Mayor of Whiting, I represent a community of approximately 4,484 residents. Our city has been diligently working to implement a comprehensive Safety Action Plan aimed at enhancing pedestrian and vehicular safety. Included in this plan is our overpass project to provide uninterrupted access to our lakefront and BP's uninterrupted access to their lakefront operations. However, the delay in funding has hampered progress on these vital initiatives, leaving us unable to determine the next steps for ensuring the safety and welt-being of our residents. Moreover, the prolonged impasse is not only delaying these essential improvements but also increasing future construction costs. As you know, inflation and rising material prices can exponentially escalate project expenses over time, placing an even greater financial burden on our community. I urge you to advocate for the removal of this funding impasse and support Whiting in its efforts to create a safer and more sustainable environment for all. Your assistance in expediting this process would be invaluable to our city and its residents. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am happy to provide additional information or discuss this issue further at your convenience. Sincerely, Steve Spebar Mayor, City of Whiting OST-2025-1200 Page 02849 Sierra Club v. Dept. of Transp. - 3:25-cv-06221 SC_EVERSPLIT0028559