South Shore's Double Track is open for business

Once years in the making, the South Shore Line’s Double Track NWI has officially opened for business.

“One hundred years later, this Double Track Project will continue to transform Northwest Indiana for generations to come,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday.

“This game-changing project is yet another example of how the state of Indiana continues to make targeted investments that attract talent and commercial investment that in turn helps our communities take it to their next level,” he added.

Holcomb, along with area congressmen, South Shore Line representatives and other dignitaries, gathered at the South Shore Line’s Miller Station in Gary on Monday to cut the ceremonial ribbon to the Double Track.

On time and under budget, according to the South Shore Line, the project adds nearly 18 miles of new track over a 26-mile pathway from Michigan City to Gary, an enhanced train schedule and improved service.

The South Shore Line’s new train schedule went into effect Tuesday, adding 14 weekday trains, revised times, reduced travel times and new, limited-stop express service.

“Double tracking the South Shore Line is one of the largest infrastructure investment in the railroad’s history. With the additional track, high-speed crossovers and high-level boarding platforms now in place, we can deliver far superior commuter rail service to our riders with greater train frequency, better on-time performance and dramatically reduced times to and from Chicago,” said South Shore Line President Mike Noland.

Double Track NWI also improves safety along the entire alignment, especially in Michigan City, where the new alignment will remove the street-running tracks, eliminate 20 at-grade crossings and provide a safer environment for passengers boarding trains.

The upgrades will add more than 1,400 parking spaces, 14 additional weekday trains and drastically reduce travel time on the South Shore Line. The project included a new overhead contact system, 22 at-grade crossings, 20 culverts and platform upgrades to five stations.

“We can’t thank our funding partners at the state and local levels enough as well as our partnership with the FTA (Federal Transit Administration); we have all worked as a team every step of the way to ensure this vital project finished on time and under budget,” Noland said.

“And of course, we are deeply thankful to Governor Holcomb and our local, state and federal delegation for their support and leadership to get us to this great day,” he added.

Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda, Indiana’s Congressional delegation, members of the Indiana General Assembly, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and local elected leaders worked with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) to provide funding and leadership for the nearly $650 million project.

“The level of coordination between the state and local governments along the corridor has been remarkable,” said U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana.

“When then-Secretary Elaine Chao joined me in visiting this project in 2017, it was clear to the entire U.S. Department of Transportation that this project would be a game-changer for the region. Countless individuals worked for decades to see the Double Track Project become a reality, and thousands of Hoosiers will benefit from their tireless commitment,” Young added.

The FTA’s New Starts program supported the project with $173 million in federal funding. Another $24 million came from the American Rescue Program. The state committed more than $340 million, locals allocated about $80 million and NICTD committed up to $30 million.

“The success that we are recognizing today is the ideal model of what we can accomplish when all levels of government and community stakeholders collaborate for the long-term economic success of our communities,” said U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-1st.

“I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this transformative infrastructure project for our region a reality, and I look forward to seeing how it will boost economic development in the greater South Bend area and benefit Hoosiers in the Second District and beyond in the years to come,” added U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-2nd.

In November 2021 the NICTD board awarded the contract for Double Track Project Number 1 to Walsh/Herzog Joint Venture of Crown Point. The firm’s bid of $304.8 million was the lowest responsive and responsible bid.

Construction on the project kicked off in February 2022.

As part of the project, Michigan City’s 11th Street Station was demolished in January 2022. Its historic façade had previously been removed and will be used on the new station.

On March 14, ground was broken on what will become The Franklin at 11th Street Station, a luxury transit-oriented development being built in conjunction with the Double Track.

In addition to Double Track NWI, Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda has also prioritized the companion $950 million West Lake Corridor project, which will be completed in May 2025, according to officials.

The West Lake Corridor will add an 8-mile line from Hammond to Dyer.

Combined, the Double Track and West Lake Corridor projects are projected to attract about $2.7 billion in private investment to Northwest Indiana, and result in more than 6,000 new jobs and $5 billion in economic impact by 2048. Nearly $800 million in economic development is already underway on both project corridors.

“For more than a decade, the RDA has worked to make commuter rail expansion a reality,” said Sherri Ziller, president and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

“The completion of the Double Track project is a milestone marking the beginning of transformational changes in the Region. Better, faster and more reliable train service to and from Chicago is already bringing new residents and new growth to Northwest Indiana, as can already be seen from Hammond to Michigan City. Everyone who has helped get us to this point has my deepest thanks. We have done something special here that will impact Northwest Indiana for generations to come.”