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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> impact would be to have the new station in downtown South Bend. We wanted to look at that <br /> further. <br /> Committeemember Dr. Oliver Davis arrived at the meeting at 3:52 p.m. <br /> Mr. Horvath continued, It was also the largest cost of all of the options. It hasn't been downtown <br /> since the late 1960's. So, this phase was to take that work that had been done in the preliminary <br /> phase and do that next step of trying to do some further due diligence on that downtown option. <br /> Subsequent to us working with AECOM in putting together the contract to do that, we also had <br /> been contacted by the County and the Airport. They were looking at a Cargo Master Plan for the <br /> Airport, as well. So, while we studied the airport, both east and west as possible locations in the <br /> first (1st) study, we did not include any potential economic impacts that we would have from it <br /> having the cargo capacity as well. So, the idea is that they thought if they took the tracks to the <br /> west side of the airport, you could use them for NICTD, the South Shore line, but also to bring <br /> cargo in that would have a route from cargo planes coming in and then being able to put it onto <br /> the train line. <br /> He went on, So, we have an interest in making sure all of that work was coordinated. We didn't <br /> want somebody different doing an economic impact analysis and not following the same format <br /> that we did on the previous one(1). So,we asked for them to include that work in with our contract <br /> with AECOM. So, we did that, and the Airport is paying for that portion of the study but it's being <br /> done as one (1) study so we have one (1) draft assessment that comes out that will talk about that <br /> airport option as well as the downtown option. To date on the downtown option, I don't have a lot <br /> to report other than we've spent a lot of time trying to work with Northfolk Southern on trying to <br /> figure out a way to co-locate or use existing right-of-way. That would obviously save a lot of <br /> money because we would eliminate land acquisition and could be within existing right-of-way, <br /> and potentially even use existing structures that are there. But, they continue to say they are going <br /> to need that right-of-way for future growth and they are unwilling to work with us on allowing us <br /> to use that right-of-way. We've met with them on more than one (1) occasion, the last time was <br /> with their Director of Policy and their Director of Government Relations, and they made it clear <br /> that we should move forward planning on not using Northfolk Southern right-of-way to get <br /> downtown. <br /> He continued, So,that has given us some direction and AECOM is now moving forward on putting <br /> together a better feasibility analysis with a more representative cost analysis to figure out what it <br /> would take to get it downtown, understanding that we won't be able to use Northfolk Southern's <br /> right-of-way. They are putting that together now and doing some survey work. Essentially what <br /> that would mean is, to come downtown, we would end up having to get down to grade at South <br /> Street right by the baseball stadium, in between that and Union Station, as a landing point. So, we <br /> would have to add some structures and some right-of-way that we would need to add. So,they are <br /> putting together preliminary findings of that right now. So, the first (1st) step is, before they can <br /> even do the engineering, is to do the survey work and figure out what is there so we fully <br /> understand what costs have been associated with doing that. So, that is underway. Then, we <br /> continue to meet about once a week with a broader group that includes the Airport folks and the <br /> County folks to continue talking about this new option on the airport for the cargo plan. Those <br /> things are moving forward in tandem. We expect to have the draft results of the study sometime <br /> between August and September. That is all I have and I'm happy to answer any questions. <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 I f D574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 2 <br />