By John Byrne, Post-Tribune staff writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- The South Shore commuter rail extension plan got a little bigger and costlier Wednesday as it advanced from a key legislative committee.
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 15-5 to pass the bill after it was amended to include LaPorte and St. Joseph counties in a plan to use state sales tax revenue to fund a massive extension and overhaul.
Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, told the committee roughly $6.5 million in sales taxes raised in LaPorte and St. Joseph would go annually to South Shore repair projects there.
In Michigan City, Pelath said the South Shore tracks would be routed away from 11th Street to speed the trains and improve safety.
In South Bend, rail access to the airport would be improved under the amended bill.
Those projects join a plan to use $30 million in sales taxes raised each year in Lake and Porter counties to produce $350 million to help fund an extension of the South Shore south to Lowell and east to Valparaiso.
Republicans, including Gov. Mitch Daniels, have expressed reservations with using state funds for the work.
Rep. Jeffrey Espich, R-Uniondale, said the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District should be given the power to levy a tax locally to pay for the work, rather than diverting state revenue.
But Ways and Means Chairman William Crawford, D-Indianapolis, argued the state earmarked millions of dollars in state sales tax funds in the mid-1990s to subsidize the construction of Conseco Fieldhouse for the Indiana Pacers.
"This is no different than that. No different," Crawford said.
In recent years, plans to raise taxes locally in Northwest Indiana to pay for the South Shore extension have foundered.
U.S. Rep. Peter J. Visclosky, D-Merrillville, has promised $500 million in federal funds to match a local revenue source comprising the Lake and Porter sales tax money and $150 million from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.
Pelath said U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-South Bend, would find the federal funds to help pay for the projects in LaPorte County and St. Joseph County.
Pelath said the Michigan City track rerouting project would cost at least $70 million and likely much more.
Donnelly was not available to comment Wednesday.
The amended bill will next head to the full House of Representatives for consideration.