DOT 156-05
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570

DOT Announces Proposal on Indiana Time Zones, Seeks Public Comment

The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that five Indiana counties would be considered for a move from the Eastern to Central time zone, but that it plans four public hearings around the state in November to hear arguments for or against proposals from all 17 counties seeking approval to make the change.

The Department recommended that Knox, Perry, Pike, St. Joseph and Starke counties move from Eastern to Central time in a proposed rule that will be posted in the Federal Register. The same rule would keep time zones the same for Carroll, Cass, Daviess, Dubois, Fulton, Lawrence, Marshall, Martin, Pulaski, Sullivan, Vermillion and White counties.

The proposed rule said the five counties recommended “have provided enough information to justify proposing to change” time zones, but noted that those counties still seeking a change have time to provide additional information or make “stronger arguments” to support their case.

The Department emphasized that the decision is not final until after the public gets its chance to argue for or against the proposal during four public hearings, to be held in Jasper, Logansport, South Bend and Terre Haute. Citizens can also file written comments on the subject. Details of the hearings will be announced in the Federal Register and to Indiana’s news media once times and locations have been confirmed.

All public comments are due 30 days from the proposed rule’s publication in the Federal Register, with a final decision expected by January. Any changes to Indiana’s time zone boundary would take effect when the nation switches to daylight saving time on April 2, 2006.

Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, the Secretary of Transportation is given the authority to set time-zone boundaries and requires that decisions be made based on the impact to local commerce.

The proposed rule, county petitions and other documents in this case are available on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, docket OST-2005-22114.