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: 16,425 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. |
Oct 19 2009, 02:28 PM
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Really Comfortable Group: Moderator Posts: 1,658 Joined: 26-July 07 From: Michigan City Member No.: 482 |
To reply out of order:
QUOTE I don't agree that it should embarrass NICTD, since the trash and blight is not the railroad's doing. It *should* embarrass the people who live near those tracks. The railroad's fences are just an unfortunately convenient wind trap for all of the detrius that people throw on the streets. Sorry, wrong. If there's trash in my front yard, I clean it up. If there's trash on NICTD property, as a good neighbor to the people who have to live near their tracks they have an obligation to keep it clean. At this task they appear to fail. For goodness sake, doesn't NICTD have any groundskeepers to keep their rights of way tidy? QUOTE ...the rest of what you said... Given that the width of 11th street appears to be inadequate for double tracking (by the way, those numbers seem on the high side to me -- 100 feet? If track centers can be 15 feet apart, I would think that 15 feet either side of the tracks would be adequate, so 15 + 15 + 15 = 45 feet would seem to me to be an absolute minimum. But I defer to your superior knowledge on this subject), I think NICTD may have to get used to the idea of single tracking through Michigan City. Considering that their plan involving knocking down on the order of 150 buildings, which no doubt would involve using eminent domain proceedings and just compensation for the displaced landowners which would probably cost upwards of $15 million for the properties alone, and additionally considering NITCD's $30 million annual budget, perhaps they may conclude that the costs involved (financial and public goodwill costs) exceed the utility of double tracking these 2 1/2 miles of their what, 84 miles of track. 'Tis a pity they didn't think of double tracking 100 years ago when they initially laid the tracks, but economically and politically I don't see cutting a 100 foot wide swath through a residential area happening now or at any point in the foreseeable future. As for the overhead wiring, on Google maps I saw some overhead apparatus for the single track near where it crosses Central Avenue (here's a link - hope that works) which appears to be a solid structure, not wooden poles, which is less than 40 feet wide (per the "ruler" function on Google Earth, 38 feet and change). It seems to me those could fit in the street. Heck, to my untrained eye it looks like one could run an additional set of tracks under that thing, but I guess NITCD didn't plan in advance for double tracking there either. You mentioned a traffic study earlier. God knows we LOVE studies here in Michigan City. Here's a study/plan I'd like to see: what would be the pricetag for NICTD to follow my modest proposal, tearing the asphalt out of 11th street and building a parking structure/renovated station at the 11th and Pine location. I bet that could be done for substantially less than the $65 million this project is budgeted for. And it would have the added benefit of NOT gutting the downtown, but actually enhancing it. |
Oct 20 2009, 12:16 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 115 Joined: 29-December 08 From: Warminster, PA Member No.: 865 |
To reply out of order: Sorry, wrong. If there's trash in my front yard, I clean it up. If there's trash on NICTD property, as a good neighbor to the people who have to live near their tracks they have an obligation to keep it clean. At this task they appear to fail. For goodness sake, doesn't NICTD have any groundskeepers to keep their rights of way tidy? NICTD does employ some facilities people who are responsible for that type of maintenance, but that's in addition to other tasks. I don't agree that it's NICTD's responsibility in all cases, sorry. If your neighbor throws his trash in the street and the wind blows it onto your property, I think you'd probably be more likely to lay the responsibility for that at your neighbor's feet, and probably confront him/her about it. I will admit, though, that to follow this analogy out, you'd probably clean your neighbor's junk up the first few times. Given that the width of 11th street appears to be inadequate for double tracking (by the way, those numbers seem on the high side to me -- 100 feet? If track centers can be 15 feet apart, I would think that 15 feet either side of the tracks would be adequate, so 15 + 15 + 15 = 45 feet would seem to me to be an absolute minimum. But I defer to your superior knowledge on this subject), I think NICTD may have to get used to the idea of single tracking through Michigan City. Perhaps, but I'll tell you now that full double track is a medium to long range goal of the railroad, and the intention is to set aside enough ROW to accomplish a full double track at some point in the future (or at least to not do something that would preclude it). Considering that their plan involving knocking down on the order of 150 buildings, which no doubt would involve using eminent domain proceedings and just compensation for the displaced landowners which would probably cost upwards of $15 million for the properties alone, and additionally considering NITCD's $30 million annual budget, perhaps they may conclude that the costs involved (financial and public goodwill costs) exceed the utility of double tracking these 2 1/2 miles of their what, 84 miles of track. 'Tis a pity they didn't think of double tracking 100 years ago when they initially laid the tracks, but economically and politically I don't see cutting a 100 foot wide swath through a residential area happening now or at any point in the foreseeable future. You might not see it, but I'm telling you that that is the goal, in either the medium or long term. As I've said, double tracking is the single most cost-effective and dramatic means to increase capacity and reliability. As for the overhead wiring, on Google maps I saw some overhead apparatus for the single track near where it crosses Central Avenue (here's a link - hope that works) which appears to be a solid structure, not wooden poles, which is less than 40 feet wide (per the "ruler" function on Google Earth, 38 feet and change). It seems to me those could fit in the street. Heck, to my untrained eye it looks like one could run an additional set of tracks under that thing, but I guess NITCD didn't plan in advance for double tracking there either. Actually, I think double track did exist there at one time. Look at all of that open space to the north of the railway. Double track catenary, especially the newer, hardier type that NICTD is installing (called "constant tension catenary), usually takes up a bit more space than the simple pole construction that is the norm east of Gary (but which won't be after the Phase II catenary work is finished). You mentioned a traffic study earlier. God knows we LOVE studies here in Michigan City. Here's a study/plan I'd like to see: what would be the pricetag for NICTD to follow my modest proposal, tearing the asphalt out of 11th street and building a parking structure/renovated station at the 11th and Pine location. I bet that could be done for substantially less than the $65 million this project is budgeted for. And it would have the added benefit of NOT gutting the downtown, but actually enhancing it. That would be a good subject for a study, I think. |
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