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. |
Aug 27 2009, 08:24 PM
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Really Comfortable Group: Moderator Posts: 1,658 Joined: 26-July 07 From: Michigan City Member No.: 482 |
This could be relevant...
http://nwitimes.com/news/local/article_d1c...b7a3f86c9c.html QUOTE Indiana wants $71.4 million in stimulus for NWI high-speed rail Illinois asks for $550 million * Story * Discussion Keith Benman - keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326 | Posted: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:00 am | (15) Comments Font Size: Default font size Larger font size Indiana met a Monday deadline to apply for federal stimulus funds for a Northwest Indiana project that would be a key link in a proposed Chicago-to-Detroit high-speed rail line. The Indiana Department of Transportation applied for $71.4 million to expand the capacity of Norfolk Southern Corp. tracks running from the Illinois line to the town of Porter, said INDOT spokeswoman Shelley Haney. The added capacity would be vital to any high-speed rail line coming out of Chicago headed to Michigan or Ohio. Amtrak trains from Detroit often are forced to wait while freight traffic clears those tracks. The project also may have direct benefits for the region, with an earlier study by the Indiana High Speed Rail Association finding the region could realize up to $1.17 billion in economic benefit from such a line. That benefit is based on previous plans for a high-speed rail station at or near Gary/Chicago International Airport. States had until Monday to apply for $8 billion in federal funds dedicated to high-speed rail projects, with Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm announcing her state applied for $833 million. Illinois also hit the deadline for first round funding, applying for $550 million in stimulus bucks for three high-speed rail routes: Chicago to St. Louis, Chicago to Milwaukee and Chicago to Detroit. "They are working very hard to bring high-speed rail to Illinois," said Paris Ervin, an Illinois Department of Transportation spokeswoman. The states basically are planning to upgrade and expand existing Amtrak routes so trains can run at consistent speeds of 110 mph, which would cut the trip from Chicago to Detroit to four hours, from its current six hours. Some states also have long-range plans to build truly high-speed, European-style systems through which trains could run at speeds up to 220 mph. Indiana put off applying for stimulus funds for its portion of a proposed Chicago-to-Cleveland high-speed rail line and for another running from Chicago to Cincinnati, Haney said. That's because the two projects would not have qualified for 100 percent stimulus funding. INDOT now hopes to seek the money in a second application round in October, when it believes they would qualify for funding at the 100 percent level. On July 27, eight Midwest governors and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley signed a pact dedicating them to the development of eight high-speed rail corridors. The announcement followed the inclusion of $8 billion in funding for high-speed rail in President Barack Obama's stimulus bill, which Congress passed in February. Adding capacity to the Norfolk Southern Corp. tracks running from the Illinois line to the town of Porter is vital to any high speed rail line coming out of Chicago headed to Michigan or Ohio. Amtrak trains from Detroit often are forced to wait while freight traffic clears those tracks. The project may also have direct benefits for the region, with an earlier study by the Indiana High Speed Rail Association finding the region could realize up to $1.17 billion in economic benefit. Posted in Local on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:00 am Updated: 5:55 pm. | Tags: Transportation, |
Aug 27 2009, 09:42 PM
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 459 Joined: 4-April 07 Member No.: 182 |
This could be relevant... High speed rail. What a boondoggle. If I needed to get to Detroit so fast and I wasn't allowed to drive, I would take the South Shore to the South Bend airport and catch a flight on one of them new fangled high speed aeroplanes. So really... no one here thinks its lunacy to spend billions of dollars to build a high speed rail line to DETROIT!?!?! Why stop there. Lets get an early start for that much needed extension to Flint. Oh, and Leigh, do you think the high speed choo-choo could do 220mph around the curve in the track that is just south of NIPSO plant. I think not. It would be creeping around it at 35mph, so who cares if it has to slow down to 25mph to go over the floating bridge. Put simply, mean reversion is a bitch. -Vitaliy Katsenelson
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