Chesterton, In – The West Lake Corridor project is one step closer to reality today following the announcement that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s (NICTD) request to enter Project Development.

The West Lake Corridor represents the first expansion of commuter rail in northwest Indiana in over a century. The estimated $563M project would extend the South Shore along the former Monon Railroad corridor from Hammond to Main Street along the border between Munster and Dyer.

Congressman Pete Visclosky stated, “I am excited to learn that the FTA has recognized the value of the South Shore expansion through this designation. It is another successful step forward to not just expand South Shore service, but to build a regional economy that provides innumerable benefits for current Northwest Indiana residents and future generations. I have no doubt that the success of this designation is due to the resilient efforts of NICTD, as well as the RDA, the state of Indiana, and all of the contributing communities. Their collective support has generated this outstanding forward momentum. I will continue to work very hard to support the efforts to have commuter trains running on the new expanded track as soon as possible.”

In anticipation of the FTA’s announcement, the NICTD board approved a contract with HDR, Inc. in the amount of $20 million to undertake all project development elements including preliminary engineering, completing a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision, and preparing all documentation required to receive a satisfactory project rating from the FTA next fall.

In August the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (NWIRDA) approved a request from NICTD to fund the entire cost of the HDR contract.

The project is expected to cut down commute time to Chicago, add another 6,500 daily riders and enhance development opportunities in and around the communities served by West Lake.

“This is an exciting time for northwest Indiana as we seek funding to build another track between Gary and Michigan City and work towards expanding the railroad to Dyer,” said Mike Noland, President of NICTD. “These infrastructure investments are fundamental prerequisites to attracting new private development throughout the four-county region served by the South Shore Line.”

Bill Hanna, President and CEO of the RDA called the announcement a major milestone. “The RDA is committed to seeing this project constructed. The State of Indiana and communities throughout Lake County are contributing hard-earned resources to help us achieve our goal because they recognize what this means to the future of the region and the state.”

NICTD and the FTA spent the last 2 years preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the West Lake Corridor Project and expect to have the document ready for public review and comment later this year.

NICTD’s goal is to seek a project rating from the FTA for West Lake in late 2017. If successful, the rating would lead to a funding recommendation in the president’s 2019 budget. Once approved