South Shore officials anticipate an onslaught of new riders.

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South Shore braces for crowded conditions during Dan Ryan work

April 1, 2006

By Diane Krieger Spivak / Post-Tribune staff writer



South Shore officials warned new commuters Friday to avoid the Miller and Hammond rail stop parking lots on Monday as construction begins on the Dan Ryan expressway.

The rail stops are already at their parking capacity, and South Shore officials anticipate an onslaught of new riders because of the road work.

The Miller rail stop is at 95 percent capacity now, with only about 13 of its 248 spaces to spare. “Miller is really crunched,” said Gerald Hanas, director of the Northwest Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the South Shore. “It’s not a good option.”

The Hammond station’s lot of 718 spaces is packed daily. Space along the CSX tracks is a dangerous alternative, he said. An auxiliary lot at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building is available about a block away, Hanas said.

“Hammond is not the best option to park if you’re new to the area,” he said.

The East Chicago station, at 94 percent capacity, has about 75 spaces left, but

overflow parking at the former Roxanna School, about a block away, adds another 150 spaces, Hanas said.

Other stations near or at parking capacity are the Gary Metro Center, at 100 percent, Michigan City’s Carroll Avenue at 98 percent and 11th Street at 100 percent.

“If you’re from Michigan, you’re better off to get on at Dune Park (north of Chesterton) or Beverly Shores,” Hanna said.

New riders in LaPorte and Porter counties should use Dune Park and Portage/Ogden Dunes stations, with 114 and 30 extra spaces, respectively, rather than Michigan City, which has three available spaces, Hanas said.

Other stations with available capacity are South Bend, with only about 65 of its 114 spaces occupied. Hudson Lake, in eastern LaPorte County has 16 available spaces; Beverly Shores has 17 spaces; Gary/Chicago airport 11 spaces; and Hegewisch, 120 spaces.

Of the eight rush hour trains arriving in Chicago before 9 a.m., five are already running above 90 percent occupancy.

“We’re seeing crossover already,” Hanas said.

Officials said it would take two to three weeks before they see the full impact the construction will have on commuters who travel at peak times.

More commuter information on the Dan Ryan construction project is available on the NICTD Web site at http://www.nictd.com.


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