South Shore's 11th Street Station officially open

The South Shore Line hit a long-awaited milestone with the opening of its 11th Street Station and adjacent parking structure.

“This station, this development here on 11th Street in downtown Michigan City is the vision,” said South Shore Line President Michael Noland during the station and parking garage’s grand opening on Wednesday.

“It’s what so many people shared when we sought funding, transforming a lightly used train stop – which used to be half a block away – into the anchor for residential redevelopment economic success,” he added.

Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson-Deuitch called the grand opening of the station a “monumental and transformational” day for the city.

“(It’s) a gateway to our city’s future that will serve generations. Today’s celebration is about far more than a building – it’s about connectivity, investment and opportunity. About the partnerships, perseverance and community spirit that made this moment possible,” Nelson Deuitch said.

The project, which was announced in 2022, is a collaborative effort between the South Shore Line, the city of Michigan City, and Flaherty & Collins as part of a larger Transit Oriented Development initiative aimed at contributing to the city’s downtown revitalization effort.

Wednesday, said Noland, marked the end of the improvements made possible by Double Track NWI.

On time and under budget, according to Noland, Double Track opened for revenue service last May and added nearly 18 miles of new track over a 26-mile pathway from Michigan City to Gary.

“We added 14 new weekly trains and greatly improved the travel time between stations in Indiana and Chicago. Here in Michigan City, we have an express train that makes it to Millennium Station in Chicago in just 67 minutes,” Noland said.

“All of our trains have greatly improved run time and our service is approaching 90 percent on time on a daily basis,” he added.

The project preserved the original 11th Street Station’s historic façade which had been designed by architect Arthur Gerber, who also designed the Beverly Shores Station, according to Noland. The façade is now part of the new station’s entryway.

“We really want this station to be welcoming to the entire community,” Noland said.

“This project represents the largest infrastructure in the railroad in over 100 years. Certainly, improved train service and connectivity to the Chicago economy and cultural center was a driving factor, but at its core, this is an economic development project. That’s why the city of Michigan City contributed over $12 million to finance this project,” he added.

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-1st., said the new station is not only something to celebrate, but is also a catalyst.

“It links us to the third or fourth largest economy in the world. It creates jobs, it’s going to create safer stronger neighborhoods in Michigan City, along the corridor through all of Northwest Indiana,” Mrvan said.

“It’s going to, by design, increase our population, maintain that our children stay here – that they have access to the cultural ability of Chicago, but yet the lakefront and our home values of Indiana and Northwest Indiana. It’s going to make sure that we have economic development and future growth. It is not all done by one person or one party, it’s done in collaboration and I’m proud to play a small role in that,” he added.

The station offers seating, restrooms, vendor spaces for travelers’ convenience, an exhibit featuring the South Shore Line’s history and an interactive model train set.

The new, modern parking structure, according to the South Shore Line, holds 542 parking spaces, including 437 priority spots for NICTD passengers from Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.

During other times, the parking spaces will be available to the general public, encouraging broader use of the downtown area. Additional passenger parking is also provided in the adjacent surface lot located east of the station and north of the platforms.

The project is Flaherty & Collins’ eighth transit orientated development and the first they have done in Indiana.

“This being our home state, this makes this one very special for us,” said Flaherty & Collins CEO and Principal David Flaherty.

“We also pride ourselves on getting our deals done. In today’s environment you see so many that are announced that never really happen,” he added.

The Franklin at 11th Street Station, a luxury transit-oriented development being built in conjunction with the Double Track, broke ground last March. The Franklin will consist of 220 units in the tower and 5,600 square feet of first floor restaurant/retail space.

“This development is a $101 million investment and that will create $700,000 in real estate taxes on property that currently does not generate any real estate taxes. We will also generate a lot of new income tax as well as sales tax,” Flaherty said.

“The economic impact that we expect from this local development would be $150 million over five years for Michigan City and the surrounding area,” he added.

Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority President & CEO Sherri Ziller added that the project’s completion marked “the end of a very long road for the RDA that began more than a decade ago” when they sought the funding to transform commuter rail in Northwest Indiana.

“The point was really to unlock Northwest Indiana’s potential and giving its talented hardworking residents a chance to really shine on the big stage,” Ziller said.

“From Hammond to Michigan City transformative projects are underway that will enable us to continue to thrive, continue to grow for decades to come,” she added.

The Double Track project was funded by the Federal Transit Administration, NICTD (South Shore Line), the state of Indiana, Northwest Indiana Regional Development Commission, city of Michigan City, La Porte County, city of South Bend and St. Joseph County.

The project’s success, according to the South Shore Line, can also be attributed to “years of broad support from local, state and federal elected officials past and present” including former Gov. Eric Holcomb, U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, Gov. Mike Braun (who was then senator), U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-1st and U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-2nd, former Congressman Pete Visclosky and the late Congresswoman Jackie Walorski.