Indiana completes West Lake Corridor Project on South Shore Line under budget
Indiana officials gathered to cut the ribbon on the West Lake Corridor Project—which came in under budget—paving the way for the commencement of new service on the South Shore Line’s Monon Corridor service.
Combined, the state notes that the Double Track and West Lake Corridor projects are projected to attract approximately $2.7 billion in private investment to Northwest Indiana and result in over 6,000 new jobs and $5 billion in economic impact by 2048. It further notes that nearly $800 million in economic development is already underway on both project corridors at the beginning of this new service.
“The West Lake Corridor Project on the South Shore Line sets the table for massive future growth opportunities supporting the economic engine in northwest Indiana, creating jobs and helping to revitalize this region of our state,” said Indiana Gov. Mike Braun. “Projections suggest that these projects will return $2 for every $1 of state investment, and I believe we will exceed these returns. The state of Indiana, and the region, is open for business.”
The state says the efficient, under-budget management of the West Lake Corridor Project will save millions of taxpayer dollars.
This improvement is part of one of the largest public transit investments in Indiana’s history, a companion to the double tracking of the South Shore Line from Michigan City to Gary. This project adds an eight-mile line extension off the South Shore Line’s Lakeshore Corridor running from north Hammond to the Munster/Dyer border, which the state says will help revitalize the Northwest Indiana region and create jobs.
This line extension is set to deliver brand new rail service options to South Shore Line riders from western Lake County with five one-seat weekday trips during the morning rush hours to Chicago and five one-seat trips during the evening rush hours from Chicago to the Munster/Dyer Station, plus hourly shuttle train service along the Monon Corridor that will transfer service to the Lakeshore Corridor at the Gateway Station in the off-peak, evenings and weekends to and from Chicago.
“The enthusiasm and excitement we are hearing from our riders for the start of this new service this month is incredible,” said South Shore Line President Emeritus Michael Noland. “Reviving long-lost passenger service on the historic Monon Corridor Line is the dream of many people coming true. When you combine our one-seat train service with our shuttle trains on the Monon Corridor connecting to the Lakeshore Corridor at Gateway Station, it means that this new line will offer a full-service schedule to our riders from day one of operations. We can’t thank our funding partners at the state and local levels enough, as well as our friends from the [Federal Transit Administration]; we all worked as a team every step of the way to ensure this vital project finished on-time and under budget. And of course, we are deeply thankful to Governor Braun, former Gov. [Eric] Holcomb and our local, state and federal delegation for their support and leadership to get us to this great day.”