The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) Board of Directors has approved funding for Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) to enter the project development phase of the West Lake Corridor expansion project. The NICTD estimates costs to be $15 million to $20 million over the next 12 to 18 months.
The Board has also approved entering negotiations with consulting firm KPMG for a study of transit-oriented development best practices. The study of transit-oriented development will maximize the benefits of improved connectivity to Chicago, including both increased access to jobs in the city as well as new job creation in Northwest Indiana. The study’s cost is not to exceed $475,000, including a $150,000 grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).
RDA's Board has also received an executive summary to the update of the RDA’s Comprehensive Strategic Plan, which was required by the Indiana General Assembly as part of the process to access state funding for NICTD's West Lake expansion of the South Shore commuter rail line.
“When the Indiana General Assembly approved $180 million for the West Lake Corridor last year, they asked that we update our plan to reflect this major new initiative,” stated Bill Hanna, RDA president and CEO. “This update lays out a road map for rail expansion and transit-oriented planning and development that will make Northwest Indiana the first choice in suburban Chicago for new and existing residents, the first choice for businesses to start or expand, and the first choice for access to jobs, both in the region and in Chicago.”
The update details the costs, benefits, and impacts of commuter rail expansion in Northwest Indiana and includes:
- Construction of the West Lake Corridor and double-tracking the existing South Shore line from Gary to Michigan City will support approximately 2,000 construction jobs from 2018 to 2022.
- The West Lake Corridor will increase the South Shore’s daily ridership from the current approximation of 14,500 to more than 21,000. Completion of the double-tracking project will boost ridership to over 24,000.
- Station area development is projected to generate an additional $435 million in local property tax revenues for Hammond, Munster, Dyer, East Chicago, Gary, Miller, Ogden Dunes and Portage from 2018 to 2039. It will also generate economic activity that will produce additional revenue for the State of Indiana – more than 4 times the State’s annual commitment within 20 years.
“We will need the involvement of all who can contribute at each city and in each county. We recognize that the RDA has a narrow and focused mission within this vision, but we are mindful of the need for a broader impact,” added Hanna. “After we adopt this comprehensive strategic plan, we will be visiting with all of our public, private and nonprofit partners and them to pledge support and resources to this plan.”