The Double Track NWI project is finished. The West Lake Corridor expansion is in the home stretch. The four track going into Millennium Station is well underway. Now the South Shore Line is seeking public input on what to do next.
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the railroad, began seeking public comments Thursday on future improvements and priorities.
The result will be a 20-year master plan to be approved later this year by the NICTD board of directors.
There’s discussion about possibly extending the rail line to LaPorte, and Valparaiso was a possibility when the West Lake Corridor project was still in the discussion stages.
With the economic development boom in New Carlisle, including a massive new data center, the railroad is considering whether to close its Hudson Lake station, which draws only about three people a day, and open one in nearby New Carlisle.
Some South Bend boosters want to see rail service downtown, restoring what was once there decades ago.
Also on the table are improvements to existing rail facilities, including upgrading the rail cars and providing more services at stations.
So far, the railroad has received more than 4,000 responses from riders during a separate survey, Director of Strategic Planning and Grants Kelly Wenger said. Employees were also surveyed. This survey is aimed at people who don’t use the railroad.
“Ridership is increasing, our survey responses are increasing, everything’s looking great,” she told the NICTD board at its meeting last week.
The railroad also plans to have conversations with local, state and federal officials about what big plans the region has for the next 20 years.
General Manager and President Michael Noland said some ideas that have been thrown out include considering shuttle trains between Michigan City and the South Bend airport and Metra upgrades for higher speed and bidirectional signaling. Adding capacity to the Metra system, like the $200 million fourth track being worked on now, helps South Shore Line service, too.
With that fourth track, the South Shore will gain new platforms at the Van Buren and Millennium stations.
“Gary Metro is something that’s high on the radar screen,” Noland said. That project likely would include a new station to serve both trains and buses, replacing the existing station.
“Can I throw a couple of ideas in on that plan,” asked Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, who serves on the board. The board members, who will ultimately adopt the new 20-year strategic plan later this year, will help railroad officials shape the plan, Noland assured him.
“By gathering public feedback early, we aim to better understand how we can continue building upon our commitment to providing efficient, reliable, and inclusive transportation that drives regional economic development, supports environmental sustainability, and strengthens vital connections to the Greater Chicago area,” says the introduction to the survey at mysouthshoreline.com.
This survey “aims to identify barriers to ridership, community needs and the types of improvements that could encourage greater use of public transit,” the survey introduction says.
The survey ends June 19.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.