South Shore plans $65 million project |
South Shore plans $65 million project |
Jun 9 2009, 01:25 PM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,426 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=39824.82
QUOTE 17 crossings may be eliminated The NICTD preliminary concept for rerouting the South Shore through Michigan City eliminates 17 of the current 34 street crossings. The 17 intersections are marked on the preliminary concept for the South Shore relocation. While the crossing at Washington Street is not Xed out, that is the proposed location for a new train station. Based on the plan, the following crossings would be closed: Carlon Court and adjacent alley, Donnelly Street and adjacent alley, Claire Street, Kentucky Street, Tennessee Street, Elston Street, Manhattan Street, Buffalo Street, Spring Street, Cedar Street, Lafayette Street, York Street, Oak Street, Maple Street and Phillips Avenue. More South Shore details released Laurie Wink The News-Dispatch MICHIGAN CITY - Property owners with parcels south of current South Shore tracks on 10th and 11th streets await an uncertain future until plans for realigning the commuter train are adopted. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District operates the South Shore and announced last week it intends to significantly re-configure more than two miles of track running through Michigan City. NICTD's preliminary downtown rerouting concept, developed by TranSystems of Chicago, shows the tracks heading south of 10th Street at Sheridan Avenue and proceeding through town to a point just east of Michigan Boulevard, where the regular route resumes. John Parsons, NICTD spokesperson, said properties north of 11th Street will not be affected. He said the specific houses and properties that would be impacted by the change have not yet been identified. He said the project, estimated at $65 million, has been developed at a "gross level of detail" and changes could be made as the engineering process moves forward. A map labeled "Preliminary Downtown Reroute Concept" shows a South Shore station and 775-space parking area between Franklin and Wabash streets and from Warren Street north to 11th Street. The map includes station information that lists the current 11th Street parking lot at 42 spaces and the Carroll Avenue station at 155 spaces. Those stations would be replaced with the new downtown station. The new route is designed to eliminate the curve between 10th and 11th streets near the Amtrak intersection, and also remove the curve at Cedar and Lafayette streets. As now indicated on the map, the tracks run parallel but one row of houses south of the existing 11th street tracks between Kentucky Street and Michigan Boulevard. At Sheridan Avenue, looking east, the proposed route angles to the right, eventually running well behind the houses on the south side of 10th Street and linking directly with the portion of track that would be just south of 11th Street. Chicago Street would be rerouted, but it would retain a crossing of the South Shore tracks. Depending on funding and station design, Parsons said a parking ramp could be constructed, allowing for private developers to create an activity center in the areas surrounding the station. An environmental impact statement will be required before property can be purchased, Parsons said. "An environmental impact statement and public hearing are required as part of the process," he said. "The specifics will follow as part of the on-going process to qualify for federal funding." NICTD has yet to obtain funding for the detailed engineering plan that comes next, Parsons said. Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie has reviewed the NICTD preliminary downtown route and will present the plan to the City Council for its approval. Parsons expects some issues to be raised by the council at that point. "We certainly want to develop a plan in concert with Michigan City that meets their needs," Parsons said. Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com. |
Jul 3 2009, 02:11 PM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,426 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=39849.31
QUOTE Touting another South Shore option City natives reveal their suggestions Laurie Wink The News-Dispatch MICHIGAN CITY - Some longtime Michigan City residents are railing against the new route proposed for the South Shore commuter line. Instead, they're touting a North End route with an intermodal transportation center. City natives John Vail, 87, and Fred Miller, 78, are making their case on the Web site www.michigancitysnewnorthend.com and with a video presentation they're taking to service clubs. Their plan would create an elevated north-end route along the Amtrak line, with the South Shore rails running parallel over a 16-foot-high bridge across Franklin Street to an elevated intermodal station at the north end of Wabash Street near the former depot now occupied by Swingbelly's Restaurant. The tracks would run on a 45-foot-high bridge replacing the swing bridge over Trail Creek. Another 16-foot-high overpass would be built over U.S. 12 to take the South Shore down toward the Carroll Avenue station, which would be phased out. More details are shown on a map posted on the Web site. "It's a given that this (North End) is where people want to be," Vail said, "with access to the beach, the Lighthouse mall and the casino." Miller agreed, saying, "It would drop visitors off and pick them up where they want to be." Miller remembers when hundreds of out-of-town visitors came to Michigan City on the South Shore on the weekend. "They walked to the beach with their ice chest and beach paraphernalia," he said. "That worked in the 1930s, but people are used to cars now." The two men believe their route is preferable to the one suggested by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District for several reasons: • Reduced number of grade crossings within city limits. • Proximity to attractions such as the outlet mall, Blue Chip, museums, marinas and Washington Park beach and zoo. • Cleared, shovel-ready land is immediately available for commercial and residential development. • An intermodal station would interface with city and inter-city buses, Amtrak, proposed water transportation, U.S. 12 and a revitalized Michigan Boulevard. They said the plan would be advantageous to the railroads as well as to transportation-oriented development of new housing and retail shops. The critical part is replacing the swing bridge on Trail Creek, Vail said, to improve rail speed as well as remove an obstacle for boaters. "A bridge at the water level is no good," he said. "The Amtrak would love to get rid of that." Both men look forward to getting the final report from a team of economic development and urban planning consultants that evaluated the economic impacts of three possible South Shore routes. Based on an earlier report, the northern route was most likely to have the greatest economic impact for Michigan City, but also had the most challenges because of the swing bridge. The 11th Street route has significant potential, they said, but is farther from the lake and at the southern end of downtown. Vail and Miller cite 10 reasons NICTD shouldn't use the 11th Street route. A considerable amount of property would have to be purchased, they noted, and nearby property values would go down. Some north-south routes through the city would be closed off, dividing the city, and the 15 grade crossings that would remain would pose safety issues. The 11th Street station doesn't have the advantage of linking to main highways, they said. Vail said their proposal was sent to John Parsons, marketing manager for NICTD, but it didn't seem to make a difference. "They don't like people upsetting their plans," Vail said. Vail and Miller believe their proposal can be funded, and they suggest specific funding sources on the Web site. One possibility, they said, was Obama's proposal to spend $9 billion on a high-speed rail system across the nation. Both men are disappointed by the lack of public comment about the NICTD plan for rerouting the South Shore, and said people seem to be apathetic. And they'd like city officials be more proactive. "We should be calling the shots a little bit about what happens in Michigan City," Vail said. Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com. |
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