South Shore Double Track Project Awarded $51M
This artist rendering shows what a new Michigan City South Shore station will look like. (image courtesy: NICTD)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s $460 million Double Track project has received a nearly $51 million payment from the federal government to advance the rail project.
Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report the Federal Transportation Administration awarded a partial grant to the South Shore Line.
Double Track would add a second set of tracks to the South Shore Line between Gary and Michigan City and upgrade stations along the route, adding capacity and speeding the trip to downtown Chicago.
South Shore President Michael Noland said he was “incredibly excited to get the call” about the funding. Noland said the money provides assurance the FTA wants to fund the project.
“This project will improve transportation options for Northwest Indiana residents traveling to downtown Chicago and surrounding areas, as well as to South Bend International Airport,” said FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams.
The publication says the funding is an advance on a New Starts grant in the FTA’s Capital Investment Grant program. The South Shore Line expects the federal government will for about half of the rail project.
The project will include 16.9 miles of new track; four new bridges; nine new platforms at the Miller, Ogden Dunes, Dune Park, Beverly Shores and Michigan City 11th Street stations; more than 1,300 additional parking spaces; and shifting of the Michigan City tracks off the street and closure of 21 at-grade crossings in the city.