Railway opens up world of jobs

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Railway opens up world of jobs
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/ ... 0a9fe3.txt - photo

BY OLIVIA CLARKE
oclarke@nwitimes.com
219.933.4078

Catching a train might one day be even easier for the region's commuters.

For many commuters, taking the train to their Chicago jobs can mean first driving many miles to a station, then hopping on a train for up to an hour-long trip downtown.

But under the proposed expansion of railway service from the South Shore Line first into Munster, then later to Lowell and Valparaiso, a station could be just down the street.

While area commuters say the South Shore trains open up a world of job opportunities, they say improvements are needed. Proponents believe the railway expansion would attract more people to Northwest Indiana and spur development.

The next steps in the expansion of the region's rail service include a study of needs and finding money to support the project.

The first phase of the project, estimated to cost about $210 million, would extend the South Shore Line from Chicago to Munster. The second phase, which would cost about $130 million, would expand the rail east to Valparaiso and south to Lowell.

Those closest to the project say service could begin within eight years if everything goes as planned.

Getting the job done

Hammond resident Linda Golec has been commuting into Chicago by train since 1968.

She doesn't always like the commute, but taking the train opened up more career options and better salaries, she said.

South Shore commuters have an aggregate income of about $170 million annually, and the railway's access to Chicago more than doubles the job base of Lake and Porter counties, according to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the South Shore Line.

The South Shore carries about 40 percent of the Northwest Indiana residents who travel to the Loop for employment and is near capacity, according to NICTD. With new rail, total daily trips could increase by 38 percent.

Mario Cardona, of Hammond, has been commuting for about 10 years. He likes the idea of extending the railway service and believes more people would travel by train if a stop existed near their homes.

"If it wasn't for the train, I wouldn't be downtown," Cardona said.

Highland resident Magda Sobieski said she's been commuting for about a year. She wishes the existing service was more reliable.

Cori Stout, of Highland, agreed. "I hate it. It's horrible the fact that you never know if it's going to run or not. You have that worry, 'Am I going to have to call and tell my boss I'm late again?'"

Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas said he hopes the expansion would provide a convenience to citizens and reduce traffic on the expressways. The closest rail stop for Valparaiso currently is the Dune Park station north of Chesterton.

"It will connect us in a more significant way to opportunities in Chicago," Costas said. "It would help to better connect communities in Northwest Indiana, and that is what regional transportation should do."

Track plans

The expanded rail service would require NICTD to develop a complex agreement with the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, CSX and Canadian National Railway involving right-of-way and crossing or using their tracks, said NICTD spokesman John Parsons.

The study will determine track scenarios and also determine the environmental impact felt by communities, he said.

The Chicago to Munster capital costs would include: a new structure over the Indiana Harbor Belt mainline/Kensington Branch and over the Little Calumet River; catenary (overhead electrical lines that power South Shore trains), signal, rail and roadbed construction; upgrade of existing crossings; three commuter rail stations; a storage and maintenance facility; and rolling stock that includes four locomotives, four cab cars and 10 passenger cars.

One idea would be to use locomotives that are part electric and part diesel, he said. The locomotives would be electric from Munster into Chicago and diesel from Munster to Lowell and Munster to Valparaiso. This system would eliminate at least one hurdle when negotiating with the freight rail companies because electric lines would not need to be strung up, he said.

Raleigh, N.C., suburban Portland, Ore., and Northern San Diego County in California are among the areas considering such locomotives, according to the Federal Transit Administration.

Growing communities are looking into alternatives to costly road expansion, Karen Aldana, spokeswoman for the Federal Transit Administration said in a recent e-mail.

Fixed guideway transit, which includes rail and busway systems, has emerged as the preferred alternative for many areas, she said.

"It also helps communities reduce auto emissions, the need for parking at activity centers and improves the mobility of individuals without access to automobiles," she said.




[EXTRAS]
The Federal Transit Administration's discretionary New Starts Program
-- The federal government's primary financial resource for supporting locally planned, implemented and operated major transit capital investments.
-- It funds new and extensions to existing systems including commuter rail, light rail, heavy rail, bus rapid transit, trolleys and ferries.
-- Criteria includes local financing, project justification, mobility improvements, environmental benefits, cost effectiveness, operating efficiencies, transit supportive land use and future patterns and other optional factors.

SOURCE Federal Transit Administration