CHESTERTON, Ind. — The South Shore commuter rail West Lake Corridor took a significant step forward on Monday, as the Federal Transit Administration issued a letter allowing the project to move into its engineering phase.
The Times of Northwest Indiana reports that Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District President and CEO Michael Noland called the letter “the FTA’s stamp of approval.” It sets the stage for the project to receive federal grants.
The project will create an 8-mile, four-station southern branch line of the South Shore from Hammond, Ind., to Dyer, Ind., allowing 12 peak-period round trips direct to Chicago’s downtown Millennium Station, and another 12 off-peak trips to and from the connection to the South Shore main line at Hammond. The target date to begin service is 2024.
With the engineering approval, the NICTD — the South Shore’s parent agency — will begin property acquisition for the branch. It is preparing to select a company or partnership of firms for final engineering and construction, and can move forward on rehabilitation of railcars to be used on the branch.
Entirely needed. Glad its being done and wish it had been done earlier.
Dyer just lost Amtrak service, so this will be a very timely and well used line when complete.
I know a lot of people who drive north to catch a SS station to reach Chicago.
Neat
Grreat, now lets hope it’s entirely double tracked.