Double Track NWI Online Meeting
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the Double Track Northwest Indiana (NWI) Project and expansion of the South Shore Line.
We are hosting three public workshops at locations along the South Shore Line to provide an overview of the Double Track NWI project: why we are proposing the project, what benefits it would bring to the region, and what improvements we are considering. We also want to hear from you to help identify concerns and ways this project can enhance your community or improve your commute on the South Shore Line.
To navigate this meeting, please scroll right to move through each slide of the meeting.
To provide a comment at any point during your visit, simply click on the “comment” button at the bottom of your screen. A comment form will appear. You may close the form to continue through the meeting; your comment will be saved. Once finished with the meeting, please click “Submit” to officially submit your comment(s) to the project team.
Overview
The Double Track NWI project is a regional transportation priority in northwest Indiana. It would build 16.4 miles of second track to ensure the 25.1-mile section of the South Shore Line between Gary and Michigan City has two mainline tracks. The project would also remove the street-running track in Michigan City, improve five stations, and build new bridges over the CSX and Norfolk Southern Railways, Hobart Road, and the ArcelorMittal main (west) entrance.
The South Shore Line is pursuing federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grant Program as a Core Capacity project. The must follow the FTA’s project development process, which includes environmental review, public input, and preliminary and final design. Other potential funding sources could be federal, state or local funding; these options will be evaluated and pursued.
An Environmental Assessment is being prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and includes a defined purpose and need for the project, alternatives, evaluation of natural and socioeconomic impacts, and commitments to mitigation measures to avoid or minimize any potential impacts.
Project Benefits
Constructing this project will result in:
The South Shore Line is a vital transportation link between northwest Indiana and Chicago. The purpose of the Double Track NWI project is to provide improved local and express service, accommodate more passengers, reduce travel times, and improve safety, mobility and reliability.
In concert with local planning efforts, this project may also provide enhanced opportunity for development around the improved stations, provided and economic boost to communities along the South Shore Line.
Project Need
Improve Service: Today, most of the South Shore Line is a single track and is shared by passenger trains and freight trains. Trains traveling in opposite directions have to be staged at sidings to allow one train to pass. Any kind of blockage on the track, such as maintenance, equipment failure or a train that is behind schedule could affect all the trains on the line. The result is longer travel times, less reliability, and late arrivals.
Accommodate More Passengers: Over 12,000 people ride the South Shore Line daily. Rush hour trains are crowded, with more passengers than available seats. With ridership expected to grow, the South Shore Line needs to add additional trains that can run on a second track without delays for passing trains.
Travel Time: Traveling from Michigan City to Chicago by train takes longer than by car because of waiting for passing trains, boarding from low-level platforms, maintenance on the track, ad freight train operations.
Safety: The street-running track in Michigan City has several unprotected crossings and shares the street with cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. There have been many collisions involving the train in Michigan City.
Resources to be Evaluated
The Double Track NWI project is being evaluated with a number of factors in mind:
- Does the design meet the project’s purpose and need?
- Does the design stay within the existing railroad property whenever possible?
- Does the design avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive environmental resources?
- Does the project alignment avoid or minimize taking homes and businesses?
- Does the project complement local communities’ plans?
- Does the project keep freight operations intact?
Under NEPA, we are examining impacts to natural and socioeconomic resources and coordinating with state and federal agencies with land or resource management jurisdiction. Detailed maps showing environmental resources near the project area are provided in the Map Book.
Alignment Alternatives Overview
Federal guidelines require that a No-Build Alternative (this is a “do nothing” alternative) be considered for comparison purposes. However, the No-Build Alternative does not meet the purpose and need of the project.
For most of the project area, a second track would be built generally parallel to the existing track.
Options at Miller
The City of Gary has been working diligently on a new station plan at Miller, called the Lake Street Junction. In this plan, the State of Indiana will vacate and re-align US 12 to connect with US 20 further east of the existing connection. The South Shore Line will work with Gary to build a new station and parking area to help spur economic development in the area.
Improvements at Other Stations
New or improved platforms are planned for the Portage/Ogden Dunes, Dune Park, and Beverly Shores stations. There will not be any changes to the historic building station at Beverly Shores.
Portage/Ogden Dunes
Improvements include:
- Two new high-level platforms
- Additional parking
Dune Park
Improvements include:
- A second boarding platform
- Re-aligning Calumet Trail under SR-49 Bridge
- Additional parking
Beverly Shores
Improvements include:
- Two ADA-accessible (using portable lift) low-level platforms
- No impact to historic station building
Options at Michigan City
The South Shore Line has been coordinating with Michigan City since 2013 to consider options for moving the street-running tracks.
From Sheridan Avenue to Chicago Street, the new tracks would follow the Preferred Alternative Route identified in the 2013 Michigan City Rail Realignment Study. The track would be separated from the roadway and run south of 10th Street.
On 11th Street, the new tracks would be moved to the north side of the street. Physical considerations for this section of track include right-of-way, maintaining traffic on 11th Street, and a sharp curve and grade change between Cedar and Lafayette. Social and environmental considerations include homes, businesses, the former South Shore Line station, the First Christian Church, and the community’s goals for this area.
Next Steps
The South Shore Line is a vital transportation link between northwest Indiana and Chicago. The purpose of the Double Track NWI project is to provide improved local and express service, accommodate more passengers, reduce travel times, and improve safety, mobility and reliability.
In concert with local planning efforts, this project may also provide enhanced opportunity for development around the improved stations, provided and economic boost to communities along the South Shore Line.
Get Involved
Now that you’ve heard about the project, we’d appreciate your thoughts.
Comments can be submitted in multiple ways:
Through the Comment button at the top of your screen
Through the project email at DoubleTrackNWI@nictd.com
Through a mailed letter, postcard, or comment form to South Shore Line, Attn: Double Track NWI, 33 East U.S. Highway 12, Chesterton, IN 46304Formal commenting period is open through October 24, 2016; however, input is welcome at any time.
If you are interested in having a presentation to your group, please call Nicole Barker, NICTD, at 219.926.5744, x 313.
Thanks for stopping by!