One of the most common arguments I hear against extending commuter rail service in Northwest Indiana is that if it hasn’t helped the northern tier communities along the existing route, so it won’t help those along the new route. I can’t disagree more with this reasoning. Northwest Indiana is something of an anomaly when it comes to commuter rail service. All it takes to see this is to look at the entire Chicago metro area, not just our sliver of it.The rail lines in Illinois snake out into thriving suburbs. Take a trip to Naperville if you want a good example of what can come from investing in commuter rail service. Naperville is about 30 miles from Chicago. Metra serves Naperville through the Burlington Northern Santa Fe route. The city has two train stations.
January 21, 2017
INDIANAPOLIS — A northwest Indiana lawmaker believes a rarely used economic development tool could be the key to encouraging transit-oriented development along the existing and future route of the South Shore commuter rail line. House Bill 1144, sponsored by state Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, would create a Sales Tax Increment Financing, or STIF, district within a half-mile of the tracks of the current South Shore, running from Hammond to South Bend, as well as the planned West Lake extension from Hammond to Dyer, Ind.
January 20, 2017
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A state lawmaker is pushing for transit-oriented development projects in northwest Indiana. Rep. Hal Slager, a Republican from Schererville, is sponsoring a bill that would create a Sales Tax Increment Financing district within a half-mile of the tracks of the current South Shore rail.
January 13, 2017
January 12, 2017
To Our Valued Riders:
I would like to begin by extending my sincerest apology to everyone that was affected by today’s service disruption.
January 7, 2017
Normally, we serve McCormick Place station on weekends. However, the South Shore will also stop select weekday trains at McCormick Place for those wishing to attend President Obama’s Farewell Address.
December 22, 2016
Metra’s Board of Directors approved an increase in Hegewisch fares scheduled to take effect on February 1, 2017, including February monthly tickets.
December 16, 2016
The South Shore plans to provide substitute bus service between South Bend and Carroll Ave. in Michigan City beginning Sunday, December 18 through at least WB Train 14 on Monday, December 19 in response to frigid temperatures forecast.
December 16, 2016
The NICTD Board unanimously approved a resolution today endorsing the Hammond Alternative Option 2 as the staff recommended Locally Preferred Alternative subject to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) public review period commencing on December 16, 2016 and ending on February 3, 2017. To review the DEIS or to learn more about the comment process visit the West Lake Project website at http://www.nictdwestlake.com/index.html
December 15, 2016
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) as project sponsor to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Section 4 (f) Evaluation pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act for the West Lake Corridor Project.
The DEIS evaluated an extension of the South Shore Line between the Munster/Dyer area and Metra’s Millennium Station in Downtown Chicago. The DEIS documents the benefits and impacts of the alternatives considered and is available on the Project website www.nictdwestlake.com for public comment and review, from December 16, 2016 to February 3, 2017.