BY KEITH BENMAN, Times of Northwest Indiana
kbenman@nwitimes.com
A feasibility study of a proposed Gary-to-Valparaiso South Shore extension could start as soon as planners have a rough cost estimate for the project.
They'll have that estimate by the end of this month and are hoping it will be less than the $673 million for the stalled Munster-to-Valparaiso extension, according to John Parsons, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District planning and marketing director.
The Gary-to-Valparaiso route has more than just financial advantages over the Munster-to-Valparaiso route, Parsons said.
It could enhance access to the Gary/Chicago International Airport and it would take the South Shore through the heart of Hobart, opening up development possibilities there, Parsons said.
A feasibility study is the first step in winning federal funding for a commuter rail project. The next step is a preliminary engineering and environmental study.
Based on a feasibility study already completed, NICTD officials plan to submit an application for federal funding for a preliminary engineering study of a Hammond-to-Lowell route sometime in 2009, Parsons said.
That was the plan unveiled before a key state legislative committee in October. That means the Hammond-to-Lowell line would be built before a Gary-to-Valparaiso line.
The $673 million cost estimate for a South Shore extension from Munster to Valparaiso using Canadian National Railroad right of way took that route out of the running, according to NICTD officials.
They are hoping the shorter length of the Gary-to-Valparaiso run, and a plan to lease rather than build new tracks, will significantly lower the cost, Parsons said.
The feasibility study would look at using the existing Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern tracks, a lightly used freight railroad owned by CSX Corp.
The South Shore runs from South Bend, Ind., to Millenium Station in Chicago, a distance of 90 miles.
The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority understands the logic of building the Hammond-to-Lowell segment first, RDA Chairman Leigh Morris said.
"Our only concern is we don't want it to stop there," Morris said. "We think it's essential the second phase to Porter County be pursued with equal vigor."
The RDA is expected to contribute $150 million to building the two legs of the South Shore extension.
The project has an overall price tag of $1 billion, with the federal government expected to pay half the cost. So far, no way has been found to raise the other $350 million needed.
Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor said the Munster-to-Valparaiso line would be his preferred alignment for the extension. The more southerly route would open up more development potential and give Illinois residents an opportunity to access stores and businesses on U.S. 30, he said.
But Snedecor said he could support either the southern or northern alignment if it increases connectivity with Chicago -- as long as it does not entail any new taxes on residents.
The town of Munster has ambitious plans for a South Shore station and other development once the commuter railroad reaches there.
Whether or not the Munster-to-Valparaiso line is built would not affect the thrust of those plans, said Munster Clerk-Treasurer David Shafer. The town has sites selected to serve either that line or the Hammond-to-Lowell line.
"The important thing as far as we're concerned is the connection to Chicago," Town Councilwoman Helen Brown said.
The connection between the Gary-to-Valparaiso extension and the South Shore mainline in Gary would be southeast of the Gary airport. That would open up the possibility of "innovative ways" of connecting the South Shore with the airport terminal, Morris said.
Parsons said a direct bus service to the airport from the South Shore would be the first step in connecting the two. After that, a "fixed guideway" system like the automated Airport Transit System at O'Hare International would be a possibility.