BY LAURI HARVEY, Times of Northwest Indiana
lharvey@nwitimes.com
MERRILLVILLE | If the polls were any indication, the majority of the more than 600 people attending Monday's Moving Northwest Indiana Forward transportation forum believed it to be a success.
The overwhelming majority of those attending the event -- 94 percent -- said they believe more needs to be done to improve the region's transportation system and spur economic development. They think a new commuter rail line and expansion of the Gary/Chicago International Airport to be the best options.
The question of how best to get that done remains, but most said the discussion that took place at Monday's forum is a good start and should continue.
John Swanson, executive director of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, said he believes the forum was a good start to bringing groups into the discussion that traditionally have not been included.
"We've got to engage the public," Swanson said. "We hope that this is an example today of what can be done to get that rolling."
Valparaiso resident Mark Torres is the founder of the recently created Act Now, an advocacy group for the disabled in need of transportation in Northwest Indiana. Torres said he expected 30 to 50 members of his organization to attend the forum, but only 27 were able to attend because they could not find transportation to get to the event.
"I was actually really impressed with what a lot of the panelists said about inclusion of people with disabilities," Torres said. "On paper, it sounds good, but in reality, the (Regional Development Authority) meetings are in the evening when transportation is not available for people with disabilities. ... We'd love to be at the table, but we can't get there."
The Rev. Shirley Isom, of Antioch Baptist Church in East Chicago, said she would like to see more discussion dedicated to local bus service, an issue that is key in her community.
"If our youngsters get a job in Merrillville or Schererville, there is no way for them to get there," Isom said.
"Most of them don't have cars. Our dollars are being taxed high enough because the big industries are going away; now they want us to pay for this, too. It's too much. We need help."
Lynette Boswell, of the Lannert Group -- a landscape architecture and planning firm in Geneva, Ill. -- said she believes the future looks bright for Northwest Indiana if the approach is both local and regional.
"A lot of people would like to live and work here, but they go to Chicago," Boswell said. "There are a lot of opportunities for growth."
LaPorte Mayor Leigh Morris said he was inspired by the event.
"I leave here today with a greater sense of excitement about what we can do together," Morris said. "To me, it's an incredibly positive day."