RDA = ROI. That message cannot be repeated enough.
And with the Indiana Senate Appropriations Committee set to consider funding for the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority this morning, it is urgent to make sure the importance of the RDA to Northwest Indiana's future is hammered home.
There's good reason why obtaining continued state funding for the RDA is the region's No. 1 legislative priority. It's because so much progress in the region depends on continued RDA involvement.
The RDA has been a magnet for federal and private investment in Indiana for nearly a decade. That money has been used to improve access to the Lake Michigan shoreline, improve infrastructure at Gary/Chicago International Airport and improve South Shore service along the existing rail line.
Now it's time to focus the RDA's efforts on expanding rail service in Northwest Indiana. It's a logical mission for a state that calls itself the Crossroads of America.
This is a jobs bill, no doubt about it. It's not just about the jobs created to build and operate the rail line, however. It's also about boosting take-home pay for Hoosiers.
By tapping into Chicago's enormous economy, the RDA will help South Shore riders bring home big paychecks from Chicago. It will help Northwest Indiana residents more easily enjoy Chicago's attractions, and it will help Chicago residents more easily see Northwest Indiana's attractions.
Building the South Shore extension will bring more than just investments on the rail line itself. Transit-oriented developments will bring housing and shopping within easy reach of commuters.
This is a project that has been discussed for decades. It is now becoming a reality.
The one big need has been to provide a local match for federal funds. That's happening, with communities in Lake County dedicating a portion of their economic development income tax revenue to the train, along with RDA members' annual dues.
The state has been a big partner in the RDA since its inception, providing $10 million a year. Gary, Hammond, East Chicago and Lake and Porter counties each chip in $3.5 million a year for the RDA.
The Appropriations Committee is where the rubber meets the road — or in this case, where the steel meets the rail. Legislative efforts to focus RDA efforts on transportation are in line with what is planned anyway. But continued state funding is key to the success of the RDA and of Northwest Indiana.
The state has poured money into Indianapolis revitalization efforts, and they have paid off. But other regions need help as well. The RDA is a proven success in Northwest Indiana. The state's investment in the RDA has been profitable.
Keep the state funding flowing. Get the trains moving.