Digest: South Shore Double Track project seeks ways to reduce cost

South Shore agency studying ways to reduce cost of Double Track project

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is studying options for lowering the cost of its Double Track project to add a second main for South Shore Line service between Gary, Ind., and Michigan City. The Times of Northwest Indiana reports that South Shore President Michael Noland said at a Monday meeting of the district’s board that the original plan was “a giant miss,” but that the agency is confident it can make revisions and obtain additional funding to allow the project to proceed. Initial bids came in at $400 million or more for a project anticipated to cost $228 million, leading the agency to reject both bids earlier this month [see “Digest: UP bridge in Oregon damaged by fire,” Trains News Wire, May 11, 2021] Among possible changes: stations with single platforms where two had been planned; using existing storage tracks rather than adding new ones; and buying basic materials like rail and ties ahead of time, removing the cost uncertainty faced by contractors.

New Austin soccer team will help pay for station at stadium

Austin, Texas, transit agency Capital Metro has approved an agreement to build a commuter rail station at the city’s new Major League Soccer venue, Q2 Stadium. The Austin American-Statesman reports soccer team Austin FC will pay $640,000 up front toward construction of the stadium, along with $3 million over the following 15 years. The 20,500-seat stadium is set to open June 16 with an exhibition game by the U.S. women’s national team.

Hydrogen rail proposal finds strong support in British Columbia survey

A proposal to revive a former interurban route in British Columbia using hydrogen-powered trains has received strong support in a survey sponsored by one of the plan’s proponents. The proposal would revive the former route of the BC Electric Railway, a 99-kilomoter (61.5-mile) route from Chilliwack, east of Vancouver, to the Patullo Bridge, which links the communities of New Westminster and Surrey. Pique Newsmagazine reports the survey, by Search Co. on behalf of the South Fraser Community Rail Society, found 88% of those surveyed in communities on the route favored the project, and 78% said they were “very” or “moderately” likely to make use. The survey of 800 adults has a margin for error of plus or minus 3.5%.