In mid-2000s, the population and commercial growth in Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana was outstripping projections.[2] The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District determined that if the growth continued, it would be necessary to add another branch to the South Shore Line commuter rail.[2] In 2006, planning proceeded for an extension to Valparaiso, Indiana, but the project was deemed unqualified for federal funding,[failed verification] and the NICTD was unable to confidently attain trackage rights on the Canadian National Railway line to Valparaiso.[3] By 2008 a new study indicated that the Valparaiso to Munster branch would not generate sufficient ridership and was dropped from the plan.[4]
In 2017, the NICTD began demolition of houses between Hanover and Brunswick streets to begin building a new station, where trains would interchange with the main line.[5]
Capital Investment Grant Programedit
In March 2019, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave the project a favorable rating meaning the project could qualify for funding from the Capital Investment Grant Program. NICTD anticipated to be awarded funding the following spring with construction beginning later in the year.[6] That October, the FTA approved the project moving it into its engineering phase.[7]
Constructionedit
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 28, 2020, which included the signing of a full funding grant between the FTA and NICTD.[8][9]
Traveling southbound, the new branch leaves the existing main line immediately before the current Hammond station.[10] From Hammond south, the line follows the route of Monon Trail until it reaches Maynard Junction. The Monon Trail will be retained, but follow a new alignment.[10] At Maynard Junction, the Corridor will have a flyover over the EJ&E/CSX tracks, and then will follow new tracks built immediately west of the CSX right-of-way.
Due to financial constraints, the initial segment will not extend to St. John or Lowell, but provisions will be made for future extension.[11]
NICTD is not constructing a station serving Hammond's downtown area. However, as part of its plans to revitalize its downtown, the city of Hammond plans to construct a downtown station itself at Russell Street, along a section of elevated track. While preparatory work is to be done coinciding with the construction of the West Lake Corridor, full construction on the station is not planned to begin until 2025, making the station an infill station to be built after the initial opening of the West Lake Corridor.[12][13]
The new line will directly serve Millennium Station at peak hours with shuttle service between Munster/Dyer and Hammond Gateway for connections to main line services at other times.[14][15]
^Mills, Wes (July 7, 2023). "Progress continues on Double Track, West Lake Corridor". Lakeshore Public Media. Lakeshore Public Media. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
^ abBenman, Keith (June 23, 2006). "Study: South Shore extension would add jobs, income". nwi.com. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
^WJOB (Calumet)/AP http://www.wjobcalpress.com/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2006-09-10&-token.story=148557.112113&-token.subpub=. Retrieved September 11, 2006. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Benman, Keith (December 17, 2008). "Study: Valpo-to-Munster SS line would add few riders". nwi.com. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
^"FTA gives favorable rating to proposed NICTD commuter-rail extension". Progressive Railroading. March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
^Keiper, Jennifer (October 8, 2019). "FTA Gives South Shore Line Expansion A Thumbs Up". WBBM-AM. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
^Brown, Alex (October 28, 2020). "Work to Begin on West Lake Corridor Project". Inside INdiana Business With Gerry Dick. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
^Steele, Andrew (October 28, 2020). "WATCH NOW: 8-mile rail line from Hammond to Dyer is on way". nwitimes.com. The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
^ ab"Frequently Asked Questions". West Lake Corridor. 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
^Simón, Marisol R.; Noland, Michael; Federal Transit Administration; USDoT; US Army Corps of Engineers (December 2, 2016). West Lake Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Chapter 2: Alternatives Considered) (PDF) (Report). NICTD. p. 5. Retrieved July 16, 2017. The alignments by alternative were evaluated from cost, feasibility, and freight railroad acceptability perspectives. The analysis concluded that the alignment between Dyer and St. John should be dropped from further consideration primarily because the estimated capital cost would have exceeded the funding that has been identified for the project. It was understood that an extension to St. John or Lowell could be considered in the future.
^Steele, Andrew (March 13, 2022). "Decades of hopes and plans culminate with start of South Shore projects". nwitimes.com. The Times (Munster, Indiana). Retrieved May 25, 2022.
^Zorn, Tom (March 25, 2022). "Municipalities get on board plans to grow housing, commercial developments as South Shore projects start". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
^Simón, Marisol R.; Noland, Michael; Federal Transit Administration; USDoT; US Army Corps of Engineers (December 2, 2016). West Lake Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Chapter 2: Alternatives Considered) (PDF) (Report). NICTD. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
^"Chapter 2 Alternatives Considered" (PDF). NICTD. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
External linksedit
West Lake Corridor
April 09, 2024
west, lake, corridor, under, construction, commuter, rail, line, lake, county, indiana, south, shore, line, services, planned, connect, towns, munster, dyer, indiana, with, hammond, indiana, chicago, illinois, overviewstatusunder, constructionlocalelake, count. The West Lake Corridor is an under construction commuter rail line in Lake County Indiana New South Shore Line services are planned to connect the towns of Munster and Dyer in Indiana with Hammond Indiana and Chicago Illinois West Lake CorridorOverviewStatusUnder constructionLocaleLake County Indiana United StatesTerminiHammond GatewayMunster Dyer Main StreetServiceTypeCommuter railSystemSouth Shore LineOperator s NICTDRolling stockNippon Sharyo NICTD EMUsHistoryPlanned openingMay 2025 1 TechnicalLine length9 mi 14 km Number of tracks1 passing sidingsTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm ElectrificationOverhead catenary 1500 V DCRoute mapLegendto Millennium Station0 0 Millennium Station0 8 mi1 3 km Van Buren Street1 4 mi2 3 km Museum Campus 11th StreetIC West Lineto Addison2 7 mi4 3 km McCormick Place51st 53rd St Metra trains only 7 0 mi11 3 km 57th Street7 9 mi12 7 km 63rd StreetMetra Electricto South ChicagoCalumet to ChicagoKensington 115th StreetMetra trains onlyRed to Howard planned Metra Electricto University Park amp Blue Island130th planned I 94Bishop Ford FreewayCalumet River19 0 mi30 6 km HegewischIllinoisIndianarerouteHammond Gateway Stationmaintenance andstorage facilityHammond to close to South Bend AirportGrand Calumet RiverDowntown Hammond future South HammondI 80 I 94Little Calumet RiverMunster Ridge RoadAmtrak to ChicagoCSXT Elsdon SubdivisionMunster Dyer Main StreetDyerAmtrakto New YorkThis diagram viewtalkedit Contents 1 History 1 1 New Start Studies 1 2 Capital Investment Grant Program 1 3 Construction 2 Alignment 2 1 Planned Stations in Hammond 2 2 Planned Stations in Munster 3 Service patterns 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editNew Start Studies edit In mid 2000s the population and commercial growth in Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana was outstripping projections 2 The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District determined that if the growth continued it would be necessary to add another branch to the South Shore Line commuter rail 2 In 2006 planning proceeded for an extension to Valparaiso Indiana but the project was deemed unqualified for federal funding failed verification and the NICTD was unable to confidently attain trackage rights on the Canadian National Railway line to Valparaiso 3 By 2008 a new study indicated that the Valparaiso to Munster branch would not generate sufficient ridership and was dropped from the plan 4 In 2017 the NICTD began demolition of houses between Hanover and Brunswick streets to begin building a new station where trains would interchange with the main line 5 Capital Investment Grant Program edit In March 2019 the Federal Transit Administration FTA gave the project a favorable rating meaning the project could qualify for funding from the Capital Investment Grant Program NICTD anticipated to be awarded funding the following spring with construction beginning later in the year 6 That October the FTA approved the project moving it into its engineering phase 7 Construction edit A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 28 2020 which included the signing of a full funding grant between the FTA and NICTD 8 9 Alignment edit nbsp The line will parallel the northeastern segment of the Monon Trail seen here crossing the Little Calumet River Traveling southbound the new branch leaves the existing main line immediately before the current Hammond station 10 From Hammond south the line follows the route of Monon Trail until it reaches Maynard Junction The Monon Trail will be retained but follow a new alignment 10 At Maynard Junction the Corridor will have a flyover over the EJ amp E CSX tracks and then will follow new tracks built immediately west of the CSX right of way Due to financial constraints the initial segment will not extend to St John or Lowell but provisions will be made for future extension 11 NICTD is not constructing a station serving Hammond s downtown area However as part of its plans to revitalize its downtown the city of Hammond plans to construct a downtown station itself at Russell Street along a section of elevated track While preparatory work is to be done coinciding with the construction of the West Lake Corridor full construction on the station is not planned to begin until 2025 making the station an infill station to be built after the initial opening of the West Lake Corridor 12 13 Planned Stations in Hammond edit Hammond Gateway Downtown Hammond later infill station South HammondPlanned Stations in Munster edit Munster Ridge Road Munster Dyer Main StreetService patterns editThe new line will directly serve Millennium Station at peak hours with shuttle service between Munster Dyer and Hammond Gateway for connections to main line services at other times 14 15 See also editMonon Railroad Monon TrailReferences edit Mills Wes July 7 2023 Progress continues on Double Track West Lake Corridor Lakeshore Public Media Lakeshore Public Media Retrieved August 27 2023 a b Benman Keith June 23 2006 Study South Shore extension would add jobs income nwi com Retrieved July 16 2017 WJOB Calumet AP http www wjobcalpress com 1editorialbody lasso token folder 2006 09 10 amp token story 148557 112113 amp token subpub Retrieved September 11 2006 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Benman Keith December 17 2008 Study Valpo to Munster SS line would add few riders nwi com Retrieved July 16 2017 Gonzalez Michael Train plans unsettle Hammond neighborhood chicagotribune com Retrieved July 18 2020 FTA gives favorable rating to proposed NICTD commuter rail extension Progressive Railroading March 26 2019 Retrieved March 26 2019 Keiper Jennifer October 8 2019 FTA Gives South Shore Line Expansion A Thumbs Up WBBM AM Retrieved October 15 2019 Brown Alex October 28 2020 Work to Begin on West Lake Corridor Project Inside INdiana Business With Gerry Dick Retrieved November 1 2020 Steele Andrew October 28 2020 WATCH NOW 8 mile rail line from Hammond to Dyer is on way nwitimes com The Times of Northwest Indiana Retrieved November 12 2020 a b Frequently Asked Questions West Lake Corridor 2017 Retrieved July 16 2017 Simon Marisol R Noland Michael Federal Transit Administration USDoT US Army Corps of Engineers December 2 2016 West Lake Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 2 Alternatives Considered PDF Report NICTD p 5 Retrieved July 16 2017 The alignments by alternative were evaluated from cost feasibility and freight railroad acceptability perspectives The analysis concluded that the alignment between Dyer and St John should be dropped from further consideration primarily because the estimated capital cost would have exceeded the funding that has been identified for the project It was understood that an extension to St John or Lowell could be considered in the future Steele Andrew March 13 2022 Decades of hopes and plans culminate with start of South Shore projects nwitimes com The Times Munster Indiana Retrieved May 25 2022 Zorn Tom March 25 2022 Municipalities get on board plans to grow housing commercial developments as South Shore projects start Chicago Tribune Retrieved May 25 2022 Simon Marisol R Noland Michael Federal Transit Administration USDoT US Army Corps of Engineers December 2 2016 West Lake Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 2 Alternatives Considered PDF Report NICTD Retrieved July 16 2017 Chapter 2 Alternatives Considered PDF NICTD Retrieved July 18 2020 External links editWest Lake Corridor West Lake Corridor Project Map Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Lake Corridor amp oldid 1216071767, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
