Post-Tribune
Despite our thirst for growth, jobs and economic development in Northwest Indiana, we support the move to shift the South Shore expansion issue to a summer study commission.
There were just too many unanswered questions for the state to commit $350 million in sales tax revenue to add South Shore routes from Valparaiso and Lowell to Chicago.
While the estimated cost of the project was $1 billion, no one outlined how the operation of the new lines would be financed. And that cost would have included a public subsidy, particularly because there isn't a public transit operation in the country that is financially self-sufficient. And where would the money have come from for the purchase of the passenger cars?
Also still unanswered is the finality over a transportation hub in downtown Hammond and a South Shore spur to the Gary/Chicago International Airport. Because both issues were late additions to the South Shore expansion project, there are questions as to how those will be funded.
And despite a glitzy promotion campaign to sell expanded commuter rail, details about the creation of 26,000 new jobs haven't been put forward.
And it became apparent in the last week that money will have to be raised locally to help fund the project. That will involve an unspecified tax.
Perhaps the largest void involves the elected, civic and business leaders of Northwest Indiana.
When area legislators and some local officials from back home engaged in name-calling before a Senate committee a week ago, it became apparent that there wasn't a consensus of support for the project.
The study commission this summer will allow area legislators to come up with answers to the questions. It's the only way the project will ever fly.