16-87 Supporting South Shore Line Upgrades

Home Browse Search

NIGC.3 20 YEAR STRATEGIC B U S I N E S S PLAN • Cost of each of the capital packages • Benefits of the overall plan • A financial strategy to implement the plan • A schedule for implementation • A distribution of benefits by county STUDY AREA NICTD provides commuter rail transportation services for the four Northern Indiana counties of Lake, Porter, La Porte, and St. Joseph. The South Shore Line runs between the South Bend Airport and Millennium Station in Chicago, serving Hudson Lake, Michigan City (two stations), Beverly Shores, Dune Park, Portage / Ogden Dunes, Gary (three stations), East Chicago, Hammond, Hegewisch, Hyde Park, and downtown Chicago (three stations). South Shore Line riders come primarily from these four counties and southeast Chicago /south Cook County, Illinois, but are also drawn from adjacent Indiana counties and southwest Michigan. The RDA serves the communities in Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana. POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT The Chicago, South Shore and South Bend (South Shore Line), whose passenger service was taken over by NICTD in the 1970s and 80s, was established in the early 20th century when Northwest Indiana was becoming one of the most important industrial concentrations in the country. Heavy industry was concentrated in the Whiting- Hammond -East Chicago -Gary corridor, which was a major ridership market targeted by the new railroad. There was also a major focus on longer- distance markets: the South Shore's first service linked South Bend and Michigan City, opening in 1908. Demographic shifts in the region began in the middle 20th century, reflecting a broader decline in manufacturing employment and shift toward service industry employment seen both nationally and locally. Areas of greatest population density along Lake Michigan have been gradually shifting to the south for decades, as cities such as Hammond, East Chicago, and Gary have seen population declines, while the development focus has shifted to areas in south and central Lake County and in Porter County. A sharp decline of intra -state trips began in the 1950s, driven by highway construction after World War II and the beginning of the interstate system in 1956, as well as by the decades -long shift in population away from the lakefront. This helped shape 2 page the current ridership situation, which is now largely dominated by the downtown Chicago -based daily commuter market, with strongest morning boardings at East Chicago, Hammond and Hegewisch. While local economic development — attracting and retaining jobs within Northwest Indiana - remains an important priority, attracting and retaining population is equally important for current and future generations. Improving connections between Northwest Indiana and Chicago is an important step for rebuilding the middle class in Northwest Indiana by enabling residents to participate more fully in the third - largest regional economy in the United States.