Michigan City Quiet Zone approved on South Shore Line

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — The Federal Railroad Administration has approved the pending South Shore Line Michigan City quiet zone. Horns in the city will cease on Oct. 21.

“We are pleased to finally have the approval for the Quiet Zone,” Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch says. “This is something I helped champion for our neighborhoods last year as a member of the Common Council. I think the enhanced safety mechanisms are important for both our residents and our visitors as we complete the train station and the Double Track project. We want to become more pedestrian-friendly and bicycle-friendly, and this is just another step in helping us to do that.”

Train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with other federal regulations, railroad operating rules, or at the discretion of the engineer. The Michigan City Quiet Zone, as approved, only applies to Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District-owned tracks in Michigan City, not tracks owned by other railroads.

“We want to keep all drivers, pedestrians, and passengers safe on our trains and around our tracks, while also being respectful of the communities we serve,” says Nicole Barker, South Shore Line Director of Capital Investment and Implementation. “This is another great milestone achieved for the City of Michigan City and NICTD, and we thank the City for advancing this with the FRA.”

The 26-mile double track project also eliminated multiple blocks of street running in downtown Michigan City, a popular draw for railfans.

Four counties formed the NICTD in 1977 to provide funding for the South Shore’s commuter service, after the railroad filed a petition with the Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon service. NICTD began managing the South Shore’s commuter service in 1989, after another proposal to abandon service was filed and this time approved. In 1990, NICTD acquired the right-of-way.