BY KEITH BENMAN, Times of Northwest Indiana
kbenman@nwitimes.com
MERRILLVILLE | The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority on Tuesday night had its first detailed look at a 33-year development plan carrying a $1.1 billion local price tag.
A strategic plan presented by Indianapolis consulting firm Policy Analytics LLC laid out costs and benefits of lakefront development, airport expansion, commuter rail and regional buses. Those four projects are specified in the RDA's enabling legislation.
RDA members at the Purdue Technology Center had questions on how all those will get done and where the money will come from.
"We are still going to be far short ... of the resources we need, even to do the four projects specified in the statute," RDA chairman John Clark said. "If that's so, don't we need to say that?"
The RDA will get a look at possible ways to pay for those projects in a second report that could be delivered in as little as four weeks, Policy Analytics President William Sheldrake told the board.
RDA members will meet with Northwest Indiana's legislative delegation Thursday to answer questions and discuss the plan, Clark said. The RDA will not be asking for additional funding or significant legislative changes, Clark said.
But that could change after the Policy Analytics report on how to pay for the projects is delivered next month.
"That could be the impetus," Clark said. "Those guys (legislators) could say, 'Is there something we need to take a look at?' "
Overall the projects have a more than $4 billion price tag. The strategic report assumes private developers would kick in billions for lakefront development, and the South Shore commuter rail extension might get 50 percent of its funding from the federal government.
Returns on local investment in the projects varied widely. The Marquette Greenway Plan for lakefront development would pay benefits of $422 in personal income for Northwest Indiana residents for every dollar spent, according to the strategic plan.
Regional bus service would pay benefits of $14 for every dollar spent.
Part of that difference is due to the fact that bus service would require no major construction projects and could be up and running fairly quickly, Sheldrake said.
RDA members focused most of their questions on the expansion of the Gary/Chicago International Airport, which already is under way. That has a total price tag of $640 million for projects running through 2026, with $197 million of that local funding.
RDA board members Gus Olympidis and Lou Martinez wanted to know what the plans are for connecting the airport to downtown Chicago.
Some of the officials interviewed in developing the plan talked about light rail or other means, Sheldrake said. But in the end, if the demand is there, a means such as limos or rapid bus service will evolve, he said.
On Tuesday, the RDA will hold its monthly meeting in Indianapolis and may approve the strategic plan prepared by Policy Analytics.
It then will be submitted to the state budget committee and State Budget Director Charles Schalliol, who must approve the plan before the RDA can go forward for eight more years.