After years of putting the project together, residents of Northern Indiana can finally rejoice. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) held a ribbon cutting for the opening of their Double Track service on Monday, May 13.
Several state representatives arrived at the Michigan City train station before the train brought them to the Miller train station for the program honoring this celebration. Mike Noland, president and general manager of the South Shore Line, discusses how this has been a goal to fulfill within these communities for a very long time.
“It’s been decades of dreaming, planning, engineering, and construction,” Noland said. “We completed this project on time and under budget. The railroad is poised to perform like never before.”
Sherri Ziller, President and CEO at the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, shares the importance of putting together projects that are made for the best benefit of residents in the Region.
“We already have more than half a billion dollars worth of projects here in Northwest Indiana,” Ziller said. “It’s such a gratifying day to have something that you’ve worked on for so long actually come together. It’s even more satisfying to see all the benefits that these projects are actually bringing here.”
Mike Smith, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), showed appreciation for the people who had a heavy influence on the investment and leadership necessary to complete this project.
“None of this would be possible without our congressional delegation, our state legislative body, and without the governor,” Smith said. “They’ve done nothing but stand by us and push us along.”
Governor Eric Holcomb arrived at the event taking the train from Michigan City to Miller.
“Public services are all about two things,” Holcomb said. “It’s about solving problems and creating new opportunities. I can’t think of another project on any scale that’s as big as this one. It checks both of those boxes.”
Another aspect that Governor Holcomb believes makes this project a complete success is the amount of collaboration and continuity that was maintained from every angle. He’s excited about the next steps to come from this project.
“I marvel at what’s to come from it,” Holcomb said.
“This is a day where Indiana once again proves that we can not only do big things, but the biggest of things like this project. I can’t wait to come back and look at the community.”
Senator Todd Young highlights the impact that projects like this one have in terms of providing new job opportunities.
“These projects are expected to create thousands of new jobs and result in billions of dollars of private investment in the area,” Young said. “This will yield material benefits for this generation and future generations to come.”
Congressman Frank J. Mrvan, United States Representative for the First Congressional District of Indiana, echoed Senator Young’s sentiments. He envisions how this will open doors for people to pursue their dreams and desires in the Region.
“We want to make sure that we are creating work and wealth for individuals so that they have options in Northwest Indiana,” Mrvan said. “Let this be a ripple of hope for what we can do together. This train of opportunity will allow us to embark on a journey towards a brighter, more prosperous future.
Congressman Rudy Yakym, United States Representative for the Second Congressional District of Indiana, gave the final statement for the program.
“I can't wait to see the levels of economic development that will take place here in North Central Indiana along this rail corridor,” Yakym said. “We continue to work together to make Indiana a state where people want to live, work, raise a family, and be in business.”
For more information on NICTD and the South Shore Line, you can visit their website
