Two key state economic development leaders have acknowledged the value of a plan that would speed South Shore Line commuter service from Michigan City to Chicago.
And we want them to know we won’t forget promises made by one of them to help make it happen.
We all learned last month the proposal to double-track 14.2 miles of the commuter train route between Gary and Michigan City won't receive any of a $126 million in Regional Cities Initiative economic development funds awarded to state projects this year.
That was a disappointment given the obvious economic benefits of increasing access of Region residents to higher-paying Chicago jobs by creating a speedier, more efficient rail service.
But there is reason for optimism.
Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann told The Times Editorial Board Monday that the Gov. Mike Pence-led Indiana Economic Development Corp. wants to expand the Regional Cities Initiative to future phases in upcoming years.
Ellspermann told us she could see the value in the Region double-tracking proposal and that it could be a candidate for funding in those future phases.
IEDC President Jim Schellinger also recently repeated promises that he began making late last year in Merrillville. He has pledged to help find state revenue to unlock potential federal funding for the estimated $114 million Region rail project.
For now, the promises are encouraging.
But Region transportation officials, including from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, need to hold state leaders to these promises.
Double-tracking would be an important way forward for our Region's transportation infrastructure that would have ripple-effect benefits for the rest of the state. It deserves strong consideration in any talks of transportation-related development priorities.
Schellinger and Ellspermann have acknowledged the value of the proposal. Now we all need to hold them to a plan for helping make it happen.