The Region’s official holiday, 219 Day, is back. On 2/18 Hammond, IN is throwing its 2nd annual party at the Hammond Civic Center to celebrate the special day named after Northwest Indiana’s area code. The South Shore Line will be providing a FREE shuttle bus from the Hammond station to the Hammond Civic Center (Compliments of the Hammond Port Authority) and back. The shuttle will run from 5pm-11:30pm.
February 2, 2017
CHESTERTON — The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District's Board of Trustees recently approved a five-year capital plan surpassing $1.1 billion in investment in the South Shore Line.
The list includes the West Lake Corridor and Double Track NWI projects, the rerouting of the railroad's approach to the South Bend International Airport, purchase of new rail cars and completion of a federally mandated safety project. "The face of this railroad will look significantly different when this five-year period is done," said South Shore President and General Manager Michael Noland.
February 1, 2017
DYER — In a 3-1 vote Tuesday, the Town Council gave the green light to a resolution approving the West Lake commuter rail project with specific recommendations. Voting for that resolution were Debbie Astor, R-5th Ward; Jeff Dekker, R-2nd Ward, and Mary Tanis, R-4th Ward. Cathy J. Lareau, R-3rd Ward, voted against this version. Joe Cinko, D-1st Ward, was absent. One of three resolutions drawn up regarding the West Lake Corridor project for the special meeting, the approved 2017-06-A Resolution featured the South Shore’s preferred option to extend the railroad 9 miles south from a new Gateway station in Hammond to Main Street on the Munster-Dyer border.
February 1, 2017
The State of Indiana will subsidize the South Shore commuter line by around $16 million this year, according to the 2017 business plan adopted by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s Board of Trustees at its meeting Friday morning. Trustees voted unanimously to approve that plan.
January 26, 2017
The proposed West Lake Corridor could do more than expand the South Shore Line's commuter service. Planners believe it also would prompt new development – including housing, shopping and leisure -- around the four proposed rail stations on West Lake's route from Hammond to Dyer.
January 23, 2017
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 19, 2017
For those heading to the Chicago Auto Show, let the SSL be your ride! Normally, we serve McCormick Place station on weekends. However, during the 2017 Chicago Auto Show we also stop select weekday trains at McCormick Place. Check out the below chart for more information on trains that will be stopping.