On Tuesday, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority presented its request for $42 million from the Regional Cities program for rail improvements, service upgrades and transit-oriented development along the South Shore line from Gary to Michigan City. Click on the video below to see our presentation.
The heart of the proposal involves fully double-tracking the South Shore line from Gary to Michigan City. Currently, the South Shore line is double-tracked from Chicago to Tennessee Street in Gary. From there to Michigan City, the South Shore has only a single track for both eastbound and westbound trains. As a result, trains must regularly slow or stop on passing sidings to allow a train travelling in the opposite direction to pass.
Double-tracking would greatly reduce commuting times to and from Chicago by allowing the South Shore to increase the number and speed of trains it runs each day. This will elevate the region above its suburban Illinois in the competition for TOD, new businesses and new residents. Quick, reliable and frequent access to the third-largest metro economy in the country will directly answer the Regional Cities challenge for plans that attract and retain talent, encourage economic development and improve quality of place.
Our inclusive, collaborative proposal will benefit four counties - Lake, Porter, La Porte and St. Joseph - with a combined population of more than 1 million. This investment, in concert with the $571 million West Lake Corridor expansion, will increase weekday ridership on the South Shore from approximately 12,000 currently to more than 20,000 by 2033.
