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CHESTERTON — More than 450 online attendees got an update on the $420.3 million Double Track project to speed passenger rail service between Gary and Michigan City.
The project aims to reduce travel time between Chicago and Michigan City from 1 hour 41 minutes to 67 minutes, putting Michigan City solidly within commuting distance.
The Double Track and West Lake Corridor projects are projected to attract more than $2 billion in private investment near the rail lines over the next 20 years, said Mike Noland, president and general manager of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the South Shore Line.
Construction of the Double Track project is expected to begin next year.
The impact in Michigan City is arguably the biggest along the entire stretch of the Double Track project. Noland presented the changes during an online open house Wednesday night.
Horseshoe Casino ready to welcome patrons back — safely
Michigan City’s historic station, with its iconic terra cotta façade, will be removed. However, the façade will be incorporated into the new station.
“We’re doing a façade-ectomy,” Noland said, to rebuild it brick by brick.
A three-story garage is incorporated into the design, with the roof serving as the third level. Surface parking is much cheaper to build, but if demand for development of the surface parking area warrants, two additional levels could be added to the parking garage, Noland said.
A lot 40 feet wide west of the new station, along Franklin Street, is being designated for a future transit-oriented development. That new building would connect to the station and parking garage.
Michigan City is planning to apply for quiet zone status, which would forbid South Shore Line trains from blowing their horns in the city.
Helping qualify for this status includes closing a number of grade crossings.
Along 10th Street in Michigan City, crossings will be eliminated at three streets — Carlton, Donnelly and Claire. Along 11th Street, there will be 10 crossings eliminated — Kentucky, Tennessee, Elston, Manhattan, Buffalo, Pine, Spring, Cedar, York and Maple.
In addition, the station will mean making 11th Street one-way, for eastbound traffic only.
The project aims to reduce travel time between Chicago and Michigan City from 1 hour 41 minutes to 67 minutes, putting Michigan City solidly within commuting distance.
The Double Track and West Lake Corridor projects are projected to attract more than $2 billion in private investment near the rail lines over the next 20 years, said Mike Noland, president and general manager of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the South Shore Line.
Construction of the Double Track project is expected to begin next year.
The impact in Michigan City is arguably the biggest along the entire stretch of the Double Track project. Noland presented the changes during an online open house Wednesday night.
Horseshoe Casino ready to welcome patrons back — safely
Michigan City’s historic station, with its iconic terra cotta façade, will be removed. However, the façade will be incorporated into the new station.
“We’re doing a façade-ectomy,” Noland said, to rebuild it brick by brick.
A three-story garage is incorporated into the design, with the roof serving as the third level. Surface parking is much cheaper to build, but if demand for development of the surface parking area warrants, two additional levels could be added to the parking garage, Noland said.
A lot 40 feet wide west of the new station, along Franklin Street, is being designated for a future transit-oriented development. That new building would connect to the station and parking garage.
Michigan City is planning to apply for quiet zone status, which would forbid South Shore Line trains from blowing their horns in the city.
Helping qualify for this status includes closing a number of grade crossings.
Along 10th Street in Michigan City, crossings will be eliminated at three streets — Carlton, Donnelly and Claire. Along 11th Street, there will be 10 crossings eliminated — Kentucky, Tennessee, Elston, Manhattan, Buffalo, Pine, Spring, Cedar, York and Maple.
In addition, the station will mean making 11th Street one-way, for eastbound traffic only.