NICTD board members tout cooperation, progress for South Shore Line projects

Progress. It has a nice ring to it, considering the circumstances our local communities and the world at large are enduring right now. One particular local Board of Trustees has progress on the brain, in a consistent and unyielding pursuit of healthy economic development for the Region. We caught up with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) Board of Trustees members to gain their insights on the value of five counties, working closely with the state, to push major South Shore Rail Line projects forward to benefit Indiana from the Illinois to Michigan state lines.

As developments continue with the West Lake Corridor Project and the Double Track NWI plan, NICTD board members, who hail from Indianapolis, St. Joseph County, La Porte County, Porter County, and Lake County, paused to reflect on the sheer magnitude of these developments and how they will help the Region progress.

Arnold said when the population base increases, so does the tax base, and then the churn for new businesses, added industry, and visitors grows stronger.

McGuinness said the collaboration between the counties, state, and neighborhoods shows that all stakeholders involved understand how critical strong infrastructure is for communities.

“We all bring something different to the table, and we’re playing to everyone’s strengths to make the South Shore Line better than ever,” he said.

The West Lake Corridor project is a southern branch extension of the existing South Shore Line to reach high-growth areas in Lake County, Indiana.

The Double Track NWI project will take the line from a single track to a double track between Gary and Michigan City, and construct signal, power, and platform improvement at five passenger stations.

All board members see the projects as essential to continued growth in the Region, but also to improving quality of life for community members.

“One of the things we struggle with, both locally and across the state, is finding ways to increase our quality of place. The South Shore projects accomplish this on numerous levels. Having 90-minute access to the third largest population center in the country [Chicago] can open up a variety of positive aspects for St. Joe County,” Kostielney said.

“This upgrade and extension will bring one of the largest job markets in the country closer to our Region residents and the Westlake extension will add new ridership and easier, quicker access to the City of Chicago. With all the upgrades, the line will remain electric powered which is a green solution to transportation well into the future. The development of new terminals and additional parking, and new and upgraded train cars, will insure a more up-to-date experience,” Good said.

Prince said the City of Gary’s economic development team has partnered with the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority to bring South Shore riders and Gary residents vibrant commercial centers surrounding the new Miller Beach Station and the Downtown Station.

“Convenient access and low cost commuter rail service is essential to Gary residents who work in Chicago and are key to attracting Illinois workers to live in Gary,” he said. “Additionally, the double tracking investment will spur two Transit-Oriented Development Districts that will increase the economic vitality of the city.”

McGuinness said that when he served as Mayor of the City of Franklin from 2012-2017, he witnessed first-hand the transformative effects that smart infrastructure investments can have on local communities.

“We made our community more visually attractive, easier to travel by car, bike and foot, and we introduced placemaking and wayfinding elements to the community. The result was a significant increase in businesses investment in our downtown and in nearby neighborhoods,” he said. “I believe the South Shore can generate the same type of positive momentum in all of the communities served by the route.”

The latest information on each of these NICTD projects can be found online at West Lake Corridor Project and the Double Track NWI plan.