"The South Shore Line ... was built in 1916, a century ago. It's long overdue for some serious upgrades," Holcomb said. "I want to be a partner with the Region as they develop their destiny in this 21st century."

On roads, Holcomb said he would apply a "data-driven" approach to deciding which state and local thoroughfares should be built or repaired, and he's open to allowing the private sector to take a lead role in paying for construction.

Unlike Pence, Holcomb did not rule out supporting tax increases or tolls to pay for infrastructure improvements. He said he's committed to working with the Legislature to find the right long-term solution.

"What I won't do is say, let's just borrow our way or raid our way into paying for things and start writing checks that I can't cash," Holcomb said, criticizing the $3.2 billion infrastructure plan of his Democratic opponent, former House Speaker John Gregg.

Holcomb declined to stake a new position on state civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Hoosiers, saying the existing patchwork of local ordinances is satisfactory.

That rankled Democratic Party spokesman Drew Anderson, who said Indiana's economic future depends on making every person, including LGBT individuals, feel welcome in the state.