Valparaiso warming to mass transportation

The stars seemingly aligned last week when the city announced its plans to move forward with an express bus service to and from Chicago while private development expressed interest in partnering with Valparaiso.

The city is seeking proposals from companies to provide an express bus service and also is seeking input from local residents through a public survey.

Meanwhile, developer Jake Wagner is offering to provide a hub for the bus service at a near-downtown location at Campbell Street and Lincoln-way that has long been slated for redevelopment.

"It's a great opportunity for the city," Redevelopment Commission and City Council member Jan Dick said, referencing the transportation potential along with the possibilities of sprucing up a troublesome spot near the city's west entrance to downtown.

The city is distributing a commuter survey to residents with this month's water bill. The survey also is available online through a link on the city's Web site, www.valpo.us.

The survey asks where commuters would like a bus service to stop in Chicago, what time it should leave Valpo and then Chicago on the way back, what amenities they would like to see with the service and what would be a reasonable fare.

"We're interested in learning what people need in a commuter service and how we can best meet those needs," Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas said.

The bus service has been deemed an initial step toward bringing rail service to and from Chicago to Valparaiso. If the city can support a bus service, the prevailing thought is it would enhance the possibility of receiving federal aid to bring the rail service to Valpo.

"I think it would help illustrate the viability of commuter rail service," Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District spokesman John Parsons said.

The bus service hub, known as Village Station, also is the proposed location for the rail service hub. Wagner is proposing building Village Station in phases, including residential and commercial buildings along with a train/bus station.

Wagner has offered to donate about 150 parking spaces in the three-acre parcel, provided the city works to locate additional parking as the area is developed through phases.

City Administrator Bill Hanna said when the proposals for the bus service are returned, the city will have a better idea of how much it will cost to get it up and running.

The Redevelopment Commission is seeking $1.9 million in federal grant money this year to support the express bus service, which the city hopes to have up and running by October.

"The timing is right," Hanna said. "It's one of those things you need to jump on while it presents itself."

Parsons said a 2004 study showed that 6.5 percent of the South Shore's ridership is from the greater Valparaiso area. Most hop on from the Dune Park station north of Chesterton, but others from Valparaiso also catch it down the line toward Chicago.

Still, it's 15-minutes from the north side of Valparaiso, to reach the South Shore.

"I think something like this is important for the city to pursue," Parsons said. "I think they've got the right approach."

Parsons said Valparaiso's express bus service to Chicago wouldn't be seen as competition to South Shore. Instead, it could aid in expanding the South Shore's service.

"We're not as concerned about competition as we are interested in seeing whether the market exists for direct bus service and commuter rail," Parsons said.

The city has grand plans for the area around Village Station. A study the city commissioned through the Lannert Group last year shows Campbell Street being extended south with mixed-use development sprinkled around the area.

As it is now, Campbell Street stops at Indiana Avenue and picks up on the south side of the railroad tracks before continuing.

"It's an area that needs some work," Hanna said. "And this will help us accomplish that."