Mayor Eddie Melton called Gary the “crossroads of the Midwest,” and he believes the future of the Gary Public Transportation Corporation will show that.
“We have rail, we have a highway behind us,” Melton said. “We have almost all transportation within just a couple mile radius of the core of our city. Down the road, we have the Gary-Chicago International Airport.”
The Gary Public Transportation Corporation on Thursday celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Adam Benjamin Metro Center, service expansion to other Northwest Indiana cities and Greyhound’s increased presence.
The transportation organization is expanding its bus services into other communities, including Merrillville, Hammond and Whiting. Denise Comer Dillard, interim general manager for the Gary Public Transportation Corporation, said buses will run up to 102nd Street in Crown Point.
Comer Dillard said it was important for the organization to be available for residents throughout the region.
“A lot of the movement is diverse,” she said. “I mean, people want to get to destinations, maybe shopping or going to work, east and west. And it’s the same thing with the buses, we need to move east and west.”
Visitors sit inside of a Gary Public Transportation Corporation all-electric bus on August 9, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune)
Greyhound Lines has increased its presence in Gary, Comer Dillard said, with buses routing to the metro center. Greyhound has about 25 arrivals and 30 departures, she said.
Fatih Eroglu, regional vice president of Greyhound, said the company is committed to making sure everyone has equal access to long-distance travel.
“With these expanded operations in Gary, we aren’t just growing our operations here,” Eroglu said. “We’re also embracing the incredible potential that the city has as a regional and national transportation hub.”
Greyhound began routing more buses to Gary as the end of the company’s lease in Chicago neared. The Chaddick Institute found that Gary has been added as a stop on several Greyhound routes, which has added miles and time in some cases, according to a recent report in the Chicago Tribune.
A Flix North America spokesperson said in a statement that passengers across the region will find it easier to access buses through the expansion in Gary. FlixBus, a Munich-based company, owns Greyhound.
“Expanded service means more direct and frequent options for travelers to and from Gary and the surrounding areas,” the statement said. “The enhanced facilities and amenities here in Gary will elevate our passengers’ travel experience, making each journey smoother, more convenient and more enjoyable.”
Increased transportation in Gary allows the region to be better connected to Chicago, said U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland.
“The residents of Gary will have greater results in Northwest Indiana and beyond,” he said.
Melton thanked Greyhound for its work in Gary and keeping the city on its radar. He believes the expanded partnership is the beginning of the company’s work in Gary.
“It’s going to mean so much throughout Northwest Indiana,” Melton said. “We’re seeing an influx of infrastructure and job and growth opportunities, and a lot of that workforce we’re providing throughout the region lives right here.”
Melton also spoke about Senate Bill 434, which he helped create as a state senator in 2023. The bill established the blighted property demolition fund, which would help revitalize Gary’s metro transportation hub. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill into law in May 2023.
In a few weeks, people will see some demolition, Melton said, and he wants them to see a cleaner, more secure city. The bill also allows for a new Gary Metro Center Hub to be built, and Melton said the city plans to build a new train station in Gateway Park.
“I’m extremely excited about the work that we have ahead of us,” Melton said. “I’m extremely excited about our partnership.”
The Chicago Tribune contributed.
