Simpson in Fort Wayne to unveil Gregg-Simpson plan on Ind. Infrastructure

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE/AP) -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg and his running mate, State Senator and Lieutenant governor candidate Vi Simpson, unveiled their plan they said would strengthen Indiana's transportation infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs on Thursday.

Vi Simpson was in Fort speaking at the site of the Spring Street bridge project on Thursday afternoon to unveil the plan.

She said Gregg's plan gives the state access to $3.5 billion to spend on infrastructure projects without dipping into existing money reserves. These projects would include building and repairing roads, and bridges and rail throughout the state. The plan would also make Indiana an intermodal crossroads for the transportation industry.

Simpson said these projects would also create more than 97,000 jobs.

Click here to see a PDF of the full plan

Simpson says their plan will especially help local projects.

“Local governments are hurting even more than the state in terms of their roads and bridges projects and we want to make sure that going forward, we help local governments as much as we can because they're an integral part our economic development plan,” said Simpson.

John Gregg said Indiana should create a $500 million investment fund to pay for road projects.

Gregg said Thursday he would build the fund with the state's gas tax revenues and money left over from Gov. Mitch Daniels' leasing of the Indiana Toll Road.

Indiana's next governor will have to find a new way to pay for road improvements now that most of the money from the 75-year lease of the toll road is gone.

Republican candidate Mike Pence has said he wants to study the issue first before coming up with a plan. He has also said the state should partner more with private companies to build new roads.

Gregg and Simpson are running against Republicans Mike Pence and Sue Ellspermann for the governor and lieutenant governor jobs.