South Shore Line is excited to announce the grand opening of the new 11th Street Station building and adjacent parking structure, officially becoming operational on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, after 12:00 pm CDT.
While passengers have enjoyed the convenience of the new 11th Street Station platforms since early 2024, the opening of the station building and parking structure marks the completion of a significant milestone in the Double Track Northwest Indiana project. This project is a collaborative effort between the South Shore Line, the City of Michigan City, and Flaherty & Collins (F&C Development Inc.) as part of a larger Transit Oriented Development initiative aimed at contributing to the city’s downtown revitalization effort.
The new, modern parking structure holds 542 parking spaces, including 437 priority spots for NICTD passengers from Monday through Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. During other times, the parking spaces will be available to the general public, encouraging broader use of the downtown area. Additional passenger parking is also provided in the adjacent surface lot located east of the station and north of the platforms.
The station building offers a comfortable seating area, restroom facilities, vendor spaces for travelers’ convenience, and engaging attractions, including a new historic exhibit showcasing the rich history of the South Shore Line and an interactive model train set display.
“We are thrilled to officially open the doors of the 11th Street Station to our riders and the community,” said Michael Noland, President & CEO of the South Shore Line. “This station represents our Double Track project’s final and transformative piece. We sincerely thank all our federal, state, and local partners who have made this vision a reality. Our partnership with Michigan City goes beyond transportation – it’s about investing in the community and driving sustainable local development.”
“The grand opening of the 11th Street Station and parking structure represents more than just transportation progress – it’s a bold step in revitalizing our downtown and reconnecting Michigan City to regional opportunity,” said Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson-Deuitch. “This project reflects our commitment to creating a city that is accessible, vibrant, and ready for the future,” she added. “We’re grateful for our continued partnership with NICTD and Flaherty & Collins in making this long-awaited vision a reality.”
Connecting seamlessly to the platforms, the station proudly showcases a restored historic façade from the original building, celebrating the site’s heritage as a hub linking regional bus services and the South Shore Line. “The preservation of the original historic façade has been central to our vision since the planning phase of this project in 2016,” said Nicole Barker, Double Track Project Manager. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved, past and present, whose dedication to honoring our region’s history have made this possible.”
The Double Track project was funded by the Federal Transit Administration, NICTD (South Shore Line), the State of Indiana, Northwest Indiana Regional Development Commission, City of Michigan City, LaPorte County, City of South Bend, and St. Joseph County. The project’s success can also be attributed to years of broad support from local, state, and federal elected officials past and present, especially former Governor Holcomb, Senator Young, Governor Braun (who was then senator), Congressmen Mrvan and Yakym, former Congressman Pete Visclosky, and the late Congresswoman Jackie Walorski.
