The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), operator of the South Shore Line, today announced modified station plans for its West Lake Corridor Project. “We have appreciated the robust public involvement in our West Lake Corridor Project, and have updated our station plans based on extensive community input,” said Michael Noland, President. “We thank everyone who has commented on the project for sharing their thoughts and concerns,” he added.
Changes Include:
- Hammond Gateway Station: Addition of the Layover Facility previously proposed for the Munster/Dyer Main Street Station; it now sits alongside the Maintenance Facility.
- South Hammond Station: The platform has been moved further south towards 173rd and the parking has been split so that parking lots will site both north of 173rd and south of 173rd.
- Munster Ridge Road Station: The platform has been moved to the northwest, rather than southwest, corner of Ridge Road and the railroad line. The parking has been moved to north of Ridge Road and west of Manor Avenue. As a result, the homes previously slated for acquisition south of Ridge Road will no longer be required for the project.
- Munster/Dyer Main Street Station: The Layover Facility previously proposed for this station has been moved to Hammond alongside the Maintenance Facility. The southeast corner of Main and the railroad line will still need to be acquired for the project, but will include ADA parking, a Kiss-N-Ride facility, water detention, and a power substation.
To access updated maps and information, go to http://www.nictdwestlake.com/boardmeeting.
NICTD is following the National Environmental Policy Act, and is in the middle of an Environmental Impact Statement for the project in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration.
The NICTD board voted to approve the Hammond Alternative Option 2, outlined in detail in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, as the Locally Preferred Alternative. This is important in that it solidifies the proposed final route for the railroad. As a next step, the railroad will submit the project for a project rating to the Federal Transit Administration. If the project is approved to advance to the next stage, Engineering, the project will await listing in the President’s budget in early 2018. Under the current schedule, construction would begin in 2020 and end in 2022.
NICTD has developed a quarterly newsletter to keep interested stakeholders updated on the project. http://www.nictdwestlake.com/news.
For more information and additional information about the project, go to www.nictdwestlake.com.