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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExpressing Support of the Proposed Major Imrovements and Upgrades of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation DistrictAttest: RESOLUTION No. 4609 -16 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana November 14 20 1,6 City Clerk President of Common Council Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana November 15, 20 16. Approved and signed by me NogeMbfr 16 20 It City Clerk SOUTH e 04 �O reecs 1865 RESOLUTION NO. 4U d Q ' I (O A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA EXPRESSING ITS SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS AND UPGRADES OF THE NORTHERN INDIANA COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT WHICH OPERATES THE SOUTH SHORE LINE NCmmi, the South Shore Line is a commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District ( NICTD), with a 10- member NICTD Board including St. Joseph County Commissioner Andrew Kostielney and St. Joseph County Council Member Mark Catanzarite, as part of the membership. For many decades, the South Shore Line has provided, and continues to provide vital transportation services from the South Bend International Airport to the Millennium Station in downtown Chicago. The South Shore services countless numbers of residents and businesses located in the following Indiana counties: Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph; and NC, , NICTD's 20 -Year Strategic Business Plan notes as part of the "Program Overview" that: "Trip times from South Bend to Chicago would be reduced by 39 minutes, with smaller time savings from other stations. Two of the factors that have the greatest positive impact on ridership are better travel times and more frequent service. Therefore, these improvements will increase average daily ridership on the NICTD system by 38 %, and would also greatly facilitate and enhance transit - oriented development and strengthen neighborhood redevelopment along the route" and have identified $15 million for the South Bend Realignment as part of the "Market Expansion Capital Costs" projections, and has further noted that: "South Bend Realignment: South Shore trains currently navigate a circuitous reverse `C' in order to access the South Bend Airport terminal from the east. The route is long and trains are slowed by 23 grade crossings. This realignment project would provide a more direct route to the west side of the airport terminal by eliminating three track miles, reducing travel time by up to 10 minutes, and cutting the number of grade crossings from 23 to 7" with a map of the expansion depicted on page 11 of the Executive Summary; and 6*Aaw4 the NICTD has further proposed that the South Shore Line take the necessary steps to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements so that the proposed improvements and upgrades can meet the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) "Core Capacity" funding guidelines, and collaborate on seeking the additional state and local funding necessary to positively move the transportation advancements forward; and OXCnv4 the details on the "Double Track N.W. I — Connectivity for Accelerated Growth" for Michigan City where a double -track is proposed from Sheridan Avenue to Carroll Avenue were discussed at three (3) Public Workshops held at the Center for the Arts in Gary, Indiana on October 4th; at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center in Porter, Indiana on October 5th and at the Michigan City Hall on October 6th, with more information being available at: htip:/ /www.doubletrack- nwi.com /imai4es /files /Michi ag nCityExhibitsforAueement pdf ;and G,fig;m� on November 2, 2016, the Michigan City Common Council adopted a Resolution approving an operating agreement for the Northwest Indiana Double Track Project which also supports the "Core Capacity South Shore Line Resolution Page 2 Project" aimed at modernizing and improving the South Shore Line's facilities through the four (4) Indiana counties of Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph. Section I. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, acknowledges that the 20 -Year Strategic Business Plan of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) was published in May of 2014. It proposes to include a four -point investment strategy addressing "baseline capital costs" to "keep the South Shore Line operating safely and efficiently" which would include: • $30 million for capital improvements on Metra Facilities • $43 million for positive train control • $98 million for double tracking • $250 million for new car orders It would benefit tremendously the residents, businesses and visitors of St. Joseph, LaPorte, Porter and Lake counties in Indiana, resulting in increased ridership on the South Shore Line, increasing train frequency, significantly reducing travel time, improving and modernizing overall operations by reducing track and road maintenance costs by upgrading and realigning tracks, reducing the number of grade crossings, and improving South Shore Line facilities. An aggressive implementation schedule, with a majority of such proposed projects being completed by 2022 has been proposed. An Executive Summary of the Strategic Business Plan is available at: https: / /www.in.gov /rda/files /Strategic Business Plan 20140528 Final pdf . Section II. The Common Council believes that the proposed South Bend Realignment projected to cost approximately $15 million would promote quality transit development and would contribute to increasing economic development not only in the South Bend and St. Joseph County area, but would be a significant catalyst for fostering positive growth in all of the four (4) counties between South Bend and downtown Chicago which are connected by the South Shore Line. Section III. The Common Council pledges its support to collaborate with all elected and appointed public officials, the NICTD Board, and interested citizens so that the necessary steps to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements regarding the proposed improvements and upgrades can meet the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) "Core Capacity" funding guidelines. Section IV. The Common Council believes that it is in the best interests of the City of South Bend, Indiana to positively move the transportation advancements forward. Section V. Upon the adoption of this Resolution, the Office of the City Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to: Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) 33 East U.S. Highway 12 Chesterton, Indiana 46304 South Shore Line Attn: Double Track NWI 33 East U.S. Highway 12 Chesterton, Indiana 46304 4 South Shore Line Resolution Page 3 so that it may be distributed to all NICTD Board Members, Nicole Barker of the South Shore Line, and to other interested community stakeholders and public officials served in the 4- county area of Indiana by the South Shore Line. Section VI. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its Council an rova y� e Mayor. K vV litvuGll, �F L1Jl11Ul Dr. D�a arner, 5t" District PSENTEF 1 APP90V.. by the Common Oliver ]"Davis, 6t" District Gavin e c, At Large Karell L. White_ At I arise Kathleen Cekanski Farrand, SBCC Atto ey �i 20-16 .°!• � • �: = - Filed in Clerk's Office NOV 0 9 2016 KAREEMAH FOWLER CITY CLERK, SOUTH REND, IN (574) 235 -9321 November 9, 2016 c�OuTa '0. 1w Common Council City of South Bend Indiana 4th Floor County -City Building 227 West Jefferson Boulevard South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 235 -9173 Facsimile Members of the South Bend Common Council 4th Floor County -City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 it „;� lark'$ Office NOV 0 9 2016 KAREEMAH FOWLER OIJTH 8.st: In IN Re: Support for the South Shore Line Proposed Upgrades and Improvements - 35 -5567 TTY /TDD Dear Council Members: On November 2, 2016, U.S. Representative Peter J. Visclosky spoke before the Michigan City Common Council urging them to approve a proposed resolution approving an Operating Agreement for the Double Track Project between their city and the Northwest Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD). The proposed upgrades of the South Shore Line in the Michigan City area is commonly referred to as the "Double Track NWI ". It calls for a second set of tracks from Gary to Michigan City; as well as new high -level boarding platforms to improve boarding and disembarking from the South Shore Line trains. The South Shore is applying for a federal grant which would pay for approximately one -half of the project's estimated $210 million cost; and the competition for federal funding is very competitive. The attached proposed Resolution sets forth detailed information on the NICTD's 20 -Year Strategic Business Plan which sets forth proposals on updates and major improvements on the South Shore Line operations in the four (4) Indiana counties of St. Joseph, LaPorte, Porter and Lake. The capital plan upgrades include a proposed $15 million upgrades identified as the "South Bend Realignment ". As Chairperson of the Council's Public Works and Property Vacation Committee, I believe that the Council's support of the attached Resolution addressing the proposed plan to upgrade and improve the South Shore Line may assist in the competitive federal grant application process. The many anticipated benefits of such upgrades to all communities served by the South Shore Line would contribute to all of their best interests. I have attached a copy of the Executive Summary of the 20 -Year Strategic Business Plan for your review. I seek your support of this innovative plan which will boast transit and contribute to lasting and needed improvements. Thank you. Most sincerely, ,a ;�. �� Council Member Jo (Maternowski) Broden 4th District Common Council Member Attachment