CHESTERTON – The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District announced Friday that it’s starting the environmental review process for the West Lake Corridor Project.
The review process is being done in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Under the corridor project, the South Shore Line would be extended to Dyer, with an option to expand to St. John.
The environmental review process will consider the potential environmental and social impacts of the project through public input. NICTD must complete the environmental review process to receive potential federal funding for the project.
“What we’re trying to do is gather comments through various venues,” said John Parsons, NICTD’s project manager. “The scoping process helps shape the types of analyses that will be undertaking during the draft of the environmental impact statement.”
A 30-day scoping period will be conducted from Oct. 13 to Nov. 11, with a public meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster.
The public can submit comments at the meeting, online at www.nictdwestlake.com, by e-mail at project.email@nictdwestlake.com, or call the comment line at (219) 250-2920. Written comments can also be mailed to: NICTD West Lake Corridor Project, 33 East U.S. Highway 12, Chesterton, IN 46304. Comments must be submitted by Nov. 11.
In other business:
*The NICTD board reviewed the district’s bridge program since 1995, during which 12 bridges were replaced; a second bridge was added at Penn-Wabash; and a bridge over an abandoned CSX route in LaPorte County was retired.
The cost of the work was around $29.6 million. Work to be scheduled includes the EJ&E track No. 2 main span in Gary; the Kensington subway east of Metra Electric; heavy bridge repairs over Industrial Highway near the Gary Water Treatment Facility; and retirement of the Oak Street Bridge in Hammond.
*Additional trains are being added to accommodate Chicago Marathon runners and their fans. Several trains will stop at McCormick Place on Oct. 10 for a health and fitness expo and race packet pick-up.
A train also will run earlier on Oct. 12 for the race, getting riders to Millennium Station at 6:04 a.m. A full schedule is available at www.nictd.com.