By Michelle L. Quinn, Post-Tribune correspondent
 
MUNSTER -- Extending the South Shore Line south and east may be one step closer to happening, and the three communities which will see the most benefit want to keep the project alive.

Representatives from the towns of Munster and Cedar Lake and the city of Valparaiso met at the Veterans' Memorial in Munster on Thursday afternoon to issue somewhat of a plea to the General Assembly for the project to pass the Wheel Tax before its session concludes.

Doing so would give the three municipalities the non-federal funding they would need to complete the project.

Though they're aware no one wants another tax, they also know people want the economic development that extending the line south would bring, said Munster Town Manager Tom DeGuilio.

"We need more transit," he said. "NICTD is reporting the largest ridership in years, and the extension will allow people to get to their workplaces more efficiently. Our legislators need to know they have our support."

Cedar Lake Councilman Charlie Kaper said in the last year alone, the town issued more than 200 single-family home permits. Most of those families are living in Illinois and likely work there, too.

"One of the developers is ready to name his subdivision 'Union Station' because of its potential proximity to the new station," Kaper said.

Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas cited a GAO study he read recently that said petroleum production has reached its peak.

"We have to invest in public transportation," Costas said, adding that Valparaiso hopes to get a commuter bus service going in the city to get people used to mass transit. "This will be a way for us to connect our communities in a real way."

But without a revenue match, it can't happen, said Marc Lopez, regional director for state Rep. Peter Visclosky, D-Merrillville.

"Everyone pays fuel taxes, and this is a rare opportunity for us to grab some of that back," Lopez said. "At this point, we don't care where the revenue comes from, but it has to be there in order to get federal dollars."

The new extension would pick up the abandoned Monon Rail to the west, and would connect the Conrail and Canadian National lines toward the east, according to DeGuilio.