MERRILLVILLE — The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission approved a contract Thursday that will create a plan intended to guide efforts to make the area surrounding the Interstate 65 and U.S. 30 interchange area safer for traffic and pedestrians.
The I-65 and U.S. 30 Safety Planning Project will be done by the firm Ratio Architects at an amount not to exceed $248,161.
The area to be studied stretches about one-quarter mile north and south of U.S. 30, and is bounded on the west by Merrillville Road and on the east by Clay Street. NIRPC describes the area as “urbanized,” with its retail, hospitality and offices lining the highways, but not “urban,” in the sense of being coherently planned.
“(The area) is characterized by excess surface parking; hostile frontages; lack of pedestrian infrastructure or amenities; large blocks with poor street connectivity; wide, dangerous and congested roadways,” NIRPC states in its scope of work statement for the project.
The safety plan should suggest ways to create “a safe and accessible non-motorized (walking and bicycling) transportation network that connects all major destinations in the project area.”
Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor is necessary in light of potential growth along U.S. 30.
“This is something the town of Merrillville and the city of Hobart very much need,” he said.
The agreement includes a deadline of June 30, 2017. Ratio has offices in Chicago and Indianapolis, among other cities.
The project, with an estimated cost of $210 million, would add a second track along the 25.1-mile stretch between Gary and Michigan City. The ensuing reduction in travel time to Chicago would promote significant development along the corridor, officials argue.
South Shore Line operator Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District will hold three workshops in October to give the public the opportunity to learn about its Double Track Northwest Indiana project.
The South Shore also wants to improve five of its station platforms and increase safety in Michigan City by moving tracks out of the middle of the streets there. The Gary-Miller Station and 11th Street Station in Michigan City would be wholly redesigned with new layouts.
Preliminary engineering and environmental review of the double-tracking project have begun. NICTD is applying for Core Capacity federal funds administered by the Federal Transit Administration for a portion of the project.
State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valpariso) told fellow committee members that a unified stance will help promote support for the project downstate. State and local sources will need to cover half the project cost.
Soliday said a recent aerial tour of Northwest Indiana with senior leadership of the House of Representatives helped them to understand the project’s potential benefits.
“Their viewpoint of us has changed significantly as a result of that ride,” he said. “I’m probably as encouraged as I have been in my 10 years of public service.”