The northwestern time zone boundary covers Lake, Porter, La Porte, Starke, Jasper and Newton Counties. These counties follow Central Time because of their proximity to the city of Chicago, IL. Most of the speakers and non-speakers who filled out the speakers' registration cards (but left before they were called) expressed their view that Indiana should be in the same time zone, preferring central time, a result incompatible with Indiana Law and the DOT's notice of the proposed regulation.
If you are traveling to or from Indiana, you may want to know where the time zone change line is located. It can be confusing to figure out, but with a little research and a little knowledge, you'll have all the information you need to know.
Jasper
The Indiana Department of Transportation (DOT) announced four public hearings regarding changes in the time zone boundary between 18 Indiana counties. Each hearing received extensive coverage from local media. During these meetings, dozens of elected officials, state representatives, and citizens expressed their views on the proposed changes.
Throughout the meetings, DOT sought input from residents and business owners. At the third hearing in Jasper, over 200 people attended. Local chambers of commerce and businesses represented their interests in the city. Several State Representatives and Mayors spoke as well.
A number of petitions were filed by counties seeking to change their time zone to the Central Time Zone. These counties are located in the Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Central portions of the state. All cited economic, geographic, and regional connections.
Logansport
The Department of Transportation held a series of public hearings on time zone changes in Indiana. Each hearing received extensive media coverage. In total, more than 6000 entries were filed, including county petitions, letters from state legislators, and supplementary information. Some elected officials vehemently opposed the proposed changes, while others were supportive.
One of the most common requests was to move Indiana from the Eastern Time Zone to the Central Time Zone. Several counties petitioned to be placed in the Central Time Zone, while others opted to remain in the Eastern Time Zone. State and local government representatives gave presentations describing their reasons for the change.
While there were a number of other comments that lauded the Central Time Zone, there were fewer in support of the Eastern Time Zone. Those in favor of the move said it would allow more interaction with customers on the West coast, help increase employment opportunities, and promote astronomy and other scientific activities.
South Bend
The state of Indiana has had a number of arguments over its time zone. For years, the question of where to put Indiana's time zone line has been a hot topic.
In the early 1990's, the Department of Transportation proposed changing the boundary line of the time zones of 18 Indiana counties. They asked local government representatives and the general public for input. As a result, several public hearings were held in South Bend, Logansport, and Jasper.
During each of these hearings, a wide variety of commenters provided information for the official record. Most comments suggested a variety of ways to approach the issue. Some favored maintaining the current time zone boundaries, while others argued for moving the entire state to the Central Time Zone.
Terre Haute
The change line in Indiana has been a hot topic since time zones were first established in 1918. Today, Indiana is split between the Central and Eastern Time Zones. Some counties have reverted back to the Eastern Time Zone, but the majority of the state remains in the Central time zone.
A recent proposal from the Department of Transportation (DOT) sought public input on a proposed change in the time zone. Thousands of comments were filed. Many were personal in nature. Others expressed a general preference. In addition to the comments, DOT held four public hearings around the state. Each hearing was covered extensively in the media.
At the DOT hearing, a representative of the DOT spoke about the process for establishing time zones. He was followed by presentations by county government representatives.
Supporters of the Eastern Time Zone
When Governor Branigan proposed a change to Indiana's time zone, a number of citizens voiced their support for the Eastern Time Zone. Supporters of the Eastern Time Zone argued that the time zone is beneficial for air travel, recreation, and the quality of life.
As of December 30, 2005, there were 6142 comments. The majority of commenters supported a Central Time Zone, but a substantial number of commenters wished to keep Indiana in its current time zone. Among those who did not support a Central Time Zone were state representatives Gerald Torr and William Friend, as well as two counties.
Several county commissioners and local chambers of commerce spoke at the public hearings. Representatives from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce argued that a move to Central Time Zone would be critical for the future growth of Indiana.
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