Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s Strategic Plan for South Shore Line

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) has launched an ambitious 20-year strategic plan for the South Shore Line, approved by the NICTD board. This comprehensive plan highlights essential development projects, such as replacing rolling stock and extending service.

Public Involvement in Planning

The plan, developed over 1.5 years, integrates public feedback. Director of Strategic Planning and Grants, Kelly Wenger, emphasized the importance of public input. Surveys gathered opinions from 4,400 passengers, 2,224 members of the public, and 51 employees. Additionally, five peer railroads contributed insights.

“The number of plans we have at NICTD really, truly shocked me,” said Wenger, referring to extensive previous efforts, including a 2014 plan.

Completing the Double Track NWI project between Gary and Michigan City was a significant achievement. Other projects include the Monon Corridor service and ongoing construction of a fourth track into Millennium Station.

Station Relocations and Improvements

NICTD has applied for federal grants to relocate the South Bend International Airport station. This move aims to eliminate grade crossings and enhance efficiency. President David Dech mentioned efforts with a lobbying team in Washington, DC to secure funding.

Plans are also in place to replace the Gary Metro Station, with the new facility supporting South Shore Line trains and Gary Public Transportation Corp. buses. Concurrently, Hammond is independently funding a downtown station set for completion within a year.

Maintenance and Infrastructure

Expanding services necessitates increased maintenance capacity. A new facility will be built at Hammond, while departments are relocated within the Michigan City facility. Gary may see changes including developing a 7.5-mile quiet zone through altering 17 grade crossings.

Freight train sidings are considered as an alternative to a full second set of tracks from Michigan City to South Bend.

Focus on Rolling Stock

Replacing rail cars is a primary focus. The current fleet includes 82 cars, with 68 nearing the end of usefulness by 2035. Future plans consider hybrid battery-electric cars, eliminating the need for an overhead catenary system.

Potential Rail Expansions

This strategic plan envisions several expansions, including possible connections to a Chicago Bears stadium in Hammond, and routes to Lowell, Valparaiso, Porter Regional Airport, and more. These expansions focus on preliminary design and environmental readiness to accelerate future projects.

Partnership Initiatives

NICTD plans to collaborate with bus and transit partners to enhance commuter convenience. Initiatives include coordinating fares with Metra and the CTA and exploring shuttle services for significant events. Fare platform integration is also on the agenda for 2028.

Potential collaborations with the ChicaGo DASH bus service and employers will facilitate seamless travel between bus terminals, train stations, and work sites.

Transit-Oriented Development

Transit-oriented developments aim to encourage residential choices near stations. Developments like The Banc in Hammond and The Franklin in Michigan City exemplify this trend, drawing interest from prospective residents.

Recent transit development districts, such as the one in Beverly Shores and Town of Pines, focus on improving infrastructure to attract new developments, including hotels, to beach towns.

To enhance visitor experience and increase ridership, the railroad is creating informative content through platforms like YouTube, helping visitors navigate from stations to various destinations.