South Shore ridership to hit 49-year -high

The operator of the South Shore is projecting more than 4.1 million people will ride the commuter railroad this year, its largest annual passenger load since 1957.

As of October, ridership was up 11.7 percent over last year, according to Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District general manager Gerald Hanas.

The NICTD chief told members of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority on Tuesday that four morning trains had more than 100 percent of seats filled in October.

The railroad expects the increase to hold up, even as Dan Ryan Expressway construction wanes, Hanas said.

"Given what we see with energy costs and parking costs, we expect we will see that for the long term," Hanas told RDA members.

The South Shore carried 3.8 million passengers in 2005. The last time the rail line carried more passengers was 1961, when 3.86 million rode.

In 1957, the South Shore carried 4.29 million passengers.

Hanas came to the RDA board on Tuesday and told them NICTD now wants to buy 14 new double-decker cars and is requesting $17.5 million from the RDA. In April, NICTD told the authority it planned to buy 12 new cars and asked for $7.8 million.

The two extra cars in the amended request will better position the railroad to offer two extra trains at both morning and evening rush hours, Hanas said. NICTD hopes to have all financing in order by the end of the year and to have the cars delivered and on the tracks by the end of 2008.

Hanas said NICTD is now asking the RDA for more money because it expects less from the Indiana Department of Transportation, which is expected to pay part of the cost.

In May, NICTD projected INDOT would chip in about $31.2 million. The projected INDOT contribution is now down to $3 million. NICTD is now projecting the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission may be able to contribute $4.5 million for the new cars. Previously, NICTD did not expect a contribution from the planning commission.

Both the state and planning commission funds would come from a federal program meant to fight traffic congestion and pollution.