53 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

http://www.nwitimes....ec6d547780.html

[Sloan]

NW Ind. group OKs money for commuter rail project

CHESTERTON, Ind. (AP) — A northwestern Indiana development group has approved a plan to provide $8 million in funding per year to extend the South Shore commuter rail line to the Lake County town of Dyer.

http://www.seattlepi...ect-5216998.php

[KevinKorell]

On the proposed Dyer-to-Hammond route, seven trains per day would carry 4,510 passengers per week into Chicago, according to a study recently completed by consultant STV.

Only 7 trains per day? Sounds like an operation that will run during commuter hours only, which sacrifices flexibility and might make it useless to those who don't work conventional hours.

It is good however to see the incremental approach to an eventual line to Valparaiso. Get to Dyer first and then extend to Valparaiso later.

Since this would be a branch of the South Shore Line, it would no doubt go into Millennium Station as the existing South Bend route does now. Dyer is also a stop on Amtrak's Hoosier State and Cardinal (which run to Union Station) so one must wonder if people may wish to transfer between the Amtrak and commuter trains to access different parts of the city.

[Mike From Crete]

Amtrak could benefit from this route by taking it directly to Kensington where it would link up with the CN for therun to Union Station. It would eliminate the time-consuming current route which involves hand-offs (each fraught with potential for delay) from CSX to CN (GTW) to UP to Metra to Norfolk Southern to Amtrak. The Cardinal/Hoosier State could run straight north on the NICTD (former Monon) to Hammond (NICTD/South Shore) to the CN. Amtrak payments for use of the track could help the NICTD funding.

[KevinKorell]

Mike, are you considering the current routing taken by the City of New Orleans, Saluki, and Illini, which brings trains over the St. Charles Air Line? That requires a reverse move on BNSF and then into Union Station. Supposedly part of the CREATE initiative there should be a connection with NS around Englewood where inbound trains can hang a left onto NS and follow the same route as the Michigan trains and the Capitol & Lake Shore Limiteds directly into CUS without the need for backing up. Of course that's still a hand-off but at least it's the most direct route possible.

[Mike From Crete]

Mike, are you considering the current routing taken by the City of New Orleans, Saluki, and Illini, which brings trains over the St. Charles Air Line? That requires a reverse move on BNSF and then into Union Station. Supposedly part of the CREATE initiative there should be a connection with NS around Englewood where inbound trains can hang a left onto NS and follow the same route as the Michigan trains and the Capitol & Lake Shore Limiteds directly into CUS without the need for backing up. Of course that's still a hand-off but at least it's the most direct route possible.

Even with the reverse move, it would still be faster than the current patch-work route used by the Cardinal/Hoosier State.

[Sloan]

South Shore commuter rail headed for big changes

The South Shore commuter railroad from South Bend to Chicago is riding on the cusp of some of the biggest changes in its 106-year history.

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., has renewed a push for extending the commuter rail line to south Lake County and a number of other major improvements are planned all along the line.

The proposed eight-mile extension to Munster and Dyer that Visclosky is advocating is less ambitious than previous proposals, but he and others see it as just the start for eventually laying tracks all the way to Lowell and Valparaiso.

http://www.on-track-...d...f=2&t=34319

[CNJRoss]

Northwest Indiana Times, Munster, IN, 3/27:

Pence on board with South Shore expansion

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence has put a $4 million exclamation point on years of work by U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, in building local support and funding to expand the South Shore Line to Dyer.

The Republican governor announced Thursday he signed into law Senate Enrolled Act 367, closing a Lake County tax loophole and directing the $4 million a year in savings to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority "to establish or improve public mass rail transportation systems in Lake County."

That money will be combined with economic development tax revenue contributed by Lake County cities and towns to create the local match necessary to obtain federal funds to extend the commuter rail line connecting region residents with high-wage Chicago jobs.

Continue.

[CNJRoss]

Northwest Indiana Times, Munster, IN 4/1:

M'ville commission recommends contribution to South Shore

MERRILLVILLE | It's likely Merrillville will contribute 22 percent of its county economic development income tax proceeds annually to the South Shore expansion.

The town's Redevelopment Commission made a recommendation Tuesday to pledge that percentage, which would be about $150,000 each year, said Town Councilman Richard Hardaway, a member of the commission.

SNIP


The commission initially contemplated pledging a set amount of $150,000 each year.

Visclosky said all other municipalities making financial commitments have done so with a percentage, and he asked Merrillville to do the same.

Complete article.

[CNJRoss]

Northwest Indiana Times, Munster, IN, 4/24:

East Chicago considers 5 percent contribution for South Shore

EAST CHICAGO | The East Chicago City Council will consider contributing 5 percent of the city's county economic development income tax revenues, with a cap of $125,000 a year, to expand the South Shore commuter train.

It also wants the option to review the commitment each year in case the city needs to adjust to poor economic conditions.

At that percentage, East Chicago would contribute about $123,000 a year, but the amount could change depending on the CEDIT funds collected.

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky has asked each community in Lake County and the county government to consider a pledge of 34 percent from CEDIT funds to expand the rail line. That percentage would total $838,463.

Continue.