Artist’s rendering shows the potential upgrades to the South Shore Line’s 11th Street Station in Michigan City, including the new parking garage in the background. Photo provided / NICTD
Artist’s rendering shows the potential upgrades to the South Shore Line’s 11th Street Station in Michigan City, including the new parking garage in the background. Photo provided / NICTD
Other projects funded
Other CIG projects receiving allocations included:

• Northwest Extension Phase II Project in Phoenix, Arizona
• Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Project in San Francisco, California
• Southwest Light Rail Transit Project in Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Streetcar Main Street Extension Project in Kansas City Missouri
• Wake Bus Rapid Transit New Bern Avenue Project in Raleigh, North Carolina
• Ogden/Weber State University Bus Rapid Transit Project of Ogden, Utah
CHESTERTON – Federal transportation officials on Thursday provided another financial shot in the arm for the South Shore NWI Double Track project.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced grants of $544.3 million in federal funding for seven transit infrastructure projects through its Capital Investment Grants program.

The South Shore Double Track Northwest Indiana project, which is in the Engineering phase of the CIG program, was awarded $49.4 million.

The Double Track NWI will add more than 26 miles of new second track between Michigan City and Gary, significantly reducing commute time on the South Shore. It also includes platform upgrades at five stops, including a new station and parking garage in Michigan City.

It also entails four new bridges; new platforms at Dune Park and Beverly Shores; and 1,400 new parking spaces. The biggest impact would be in Michigan City, where the tracks would be moved off the street and 21 at-grade crossings would be closed.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said, "This $544.3 million federal investment will help ensure that critical improvements can be made to our country’s public transportation systems.

"These transit infrastructure investments will help communities improve access and mobility to transit service as they address the impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency and continue their economic recovery," said FTA deputy administrator K. Jane Williams.

Two of the projects receiving an allocation have an existing Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA), and five – including the Double Track – are advancing toward readiness to receive a construction grant agreement.

The latest grant raises the DOT commitment to the project to about $99 million – it received $50.6 million in August. If the project continues to advance, the total federal commitment could reach $180 million, or nearly 40% of the project's estimated $460 million cost.

Combined, the South Shore Double Track and West Lake (new line south from Hammond to Dyer) projects are expected to attract about $2.3 billion in private investment, creating more than 6,000 new jobs and $3 billion in economic impact by 2048.

Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for consideration.
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