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![]() Spends WAY too much time at CBTL ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Admin Posts: 16,432 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. |
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#2
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Member ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 115 Joined: 29-December 08 From: Warminster, PA Member No.: 865 ![]() |
If anyone wants a quick once-over of what NICTD management is thinking, feel free to read the interview "stickied" to the first page of this web site.
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![]() Really Comfortable ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Moderator Posts: 1,658 Joined: 26-July 07 From: Michigan City Member No.: 482 ![]() |
If anyone wants a quick once-over of what NICTD management is thinking, feel free to read the interview "stickied" to the first page of this web site. And here's a link to that thread: http://www.citybythelake.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2300 Joe, if the new pathway for the NICTD rails is going to be where it's shown in the proposal, why does anything have to be done with 11th street? It appears to my untrained eye that the tracks would no longer be in the street, so why not leave the street alone (other than removing the tracks)? Alternatively, if NICTD has the entire width of 11th street to use for a rail bed, why would it be necessary to tear down all those houses, other than to straighten out a couple of curves? It seems to me that the "rails in asphalt" issue would be taken care of. As for a new station, is there a compelling reason to not use the old station? And as to having adequate parking, is there a compelling reason why a huge street level parking lot is superior to a multi-level structure (such as those seen in the Andrews and other studies)? I understand there may be additional cost, but unless the additional cost is astronomical, I personally don't find that reason compelling. And one more question, regarding the additional cost of rails in asphalt-- how many years of the extra expense of the rails in asphalt would $65 million pay for? And on a personal note, are you still affliated with NICTD? I thought I heard you had moved on to another employment situation. If you're still in Michigan City, I owe you a poster... |
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Member ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 115 Joined: 29-December 08 From: Warminster, PA Member No.: 865 ![]() |
And here's a link to that thread: http://www.citybythelake.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2300 Joe, if the new pathway for the NICTD rails is going to be where it's shown in the proposal, why does anything have to be done with 11th street? It appears to my untrained eye that the tracks would no longer be in the street, so why not leave the street alone (other than removing the tracks)? Alternatively, if NICTD has the entire width of 11th street to use for a rail bed, why would it be necessary to tear down all those houses, other than to straighten out a couple of curves? It seems to me that the "rails in asphalt" issue would be taken care of. The plan, as far as it had gotten before I left (which was a painful decision for me, but necessary as the relocation just didn't work out) was to leave a lane of 11th Street open (the north lane). In order to get the necessary real estate (figuratively speaking) to fit 2 trackways plus ancillary infrastructure such as catenary structures, signals and signal huts, and so forth, it was calculated that the south lane, sidewalk, and one lot into 11th Street, on the south side, would be necessary (not the entire lot, but it's impossible to buy some fraction of a lot, if your ultimate goal is to build something else entirely on it, for obvious reasons). If 11th Street were to simply be closed completely, I'm not sure that that would provide enough space or not (I don't have the necessary street dimension data in front of me), but I suspect that it would be. However - the plan, which the city seemed to want, was to keep one lane of 11th Street open. That's what has led us to this place. As for a new station, is there a compelling reason to not use the old station? And as to having adequate parking, is there a compelling reason why a huge street level parking lot is superior to a multi-level structure (such as those seen in the Andrews and other studies)? I understand there may be additional cost, but unless the additional cost is astronomical, I personally don't find that reason compelling. NICTD no longer owns the old station, which I understand has been virtually gutted on the inside. Also, north of 11th Street is the historic district, making any substantial work there more costly, more involved, and more trouble, plain and simple. It would not be cost effective on a dollar or time basis to try to design and build something with all of the modern amenities that NICTD envisions without making substantial changes, which run right up against something you're familiar with - the historic district. As for the parking - NICTD would, if the 11th Street corridor is built, close the station at Carroll Avenue. The District would very much like to be able to provide passengers with the parking they need right now, and will likely need in the future. Although demand is off slightly this year mostly due to the economic downturn, the long term trend is solidly up. That's why it was projected that so much land would be needed for parking. I don't think that anything in the NICTD plan, though, necessarily precludes a multi-level parking structure (in fact, the economic development folks thought that would be a good idea). You're right that it would be more costly, but I don't know what the incremental cost of that would be versus a flat parking lot. And one more question, regarding the additional cost of rails in asphalt-- how many years of the extra expense of the rails in asphalt would $65 million pay for? Unfortunately, I don't have the "broken out" figures in front of me that show mile for mile where the most expensive to maintain segments are, and what the per-mile costs are, but the street running section by far outpaces any other segmentin terms of maintenance cost. In addition - and you had alluded to this in an earlier post - the cost of not implementing Positive Train Control (PTC) by 2015 could be as serious as an embargo of service. The Feds could, conceivably, shut the South Shore down through the FRA if it's not in compliance. I doubt they'd take that drastic step, but everything up to and including complete shutdown is in their arsenal. Since the state of the rails is never good in the asphalt, it's very difficult to install and maintain a working PTC system in street running track of the kind that runs down 11th & 10th Streets. And on a personal note, are you still affliated with NICTD? I thought I heard you had moved on to another employment situation. If you're still in Michigan City, I owe you a poster... As I've already said, I had to make the very painful decision to leave NICTD and the area, which I had grown to love. There may be a time in the future when my family situation and the economic situation will have changed such that I could return, but that would be at NICTD's pleasure, obviously. |
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