MUNSTER | Janine Rothschild believes the South Shore expansion could fast track her life.
Rothschild, co-president of the Jewish Foundation of Northwest Indiana, has family, doctors and business in Chicago.
"It would be good for people who are flying in to the airports to use the South Shore and we wouldn't have to fight the traffic to get them out here," she said. "We go there a lot to pick them up, and we have people who fly in all the time."
Rothschild, a 32-year Munster resident, joins countless others who embrace a proposed overall $1 billion rail plan that would extend the South Shore's routes from Chicago to Munster, plus a route from Munster to Valparaiso and Munster to Lowell.
But a key element to qualify the project for the $500 million in federal money is the local balance of $350 million, said John Parsons, director of marketing and planning for the
Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.
"There is no definitive way to fund the $350 million local match," said Town Manager Tom DeGiulio. "It is likely going to come from a multi-county wheel tax, and it's got to be something that will generate a significant amount of dollars."
Councilman Dave Nellans said the rails could open up the job market for Munster residents and get people off the expressways.
Greg Bales, of Munster, said the commuter route extension is a positive project for the region.
"This is good for the environment, this is good for creating access to good jobs in Chicago, and this is good for promoting development around the new train lines and stations," said Bales, who is co-director of
Citizens for the Extension of the South Shore Line.
Town Council President Rob Mangus said, "History has long shown that being close to a commuter line raises property values. The move is back to transit-oriented design and mixed used with both residential and commercial together."
The town has plans to do redevelopment and upgrade housing stock in neighborhoods, including an overpass/underpass construction over the existing railroad tracks at 45th and Calumet avenues, he said.
Dawn Radich-Kotz, of Munster, said she and friends don't find the South Shore expansion to be feasible. But as a taxpayer, she would financially back the project.
"We are all doing driving just because the South Shore in Hammond is unpredictable with unscheduled delays," said Radich-Kotz, who works in downtown Chicago. "It is faster for me to drive than take the train."