Shaping the future of Northwest Indiana means plugging a very big leak. Simply put, we're losing our young people to other areas.
Studies on migration have shown more people are leaving Indiana than moving here.
Evansville-based Atlas Van Lines' annual migration patterns study found that 1,379 of its customers moved into Indiana last year, while 1,739 moved out.
Every year since at least 2005, more people have exited Indiana than arrived.
The 2014 National Movers Study by United Van Lines, released this month, showed 54.1 percent of Indiana shipments were leaving the state, compared to 45.9 percent arriving.
Other studies show the average age of Hoosiers is rising. It's rising in Northwest Indiana as well, enough to make U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky compare the region's situation to that of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
What would it take to bring back our young people? What do other areas have that Northwest Indiana doesn't?
This is about jobs, of course, but it's also about amenities, or quality of life, if you prefer. Keep in mind that Chicago's enormous job market is within commuting distance of Northwest Indiana.
We need to create amenities that appeal to Millennials, including housing and transportation options they prefer. And yes, that includes extending commuter rail service and encouraging transportation-oriented developments.
An honest assessment of Northwest Indiana will show we have many amenities that are attractive to that generation. We have great parks, including a national park and one of Indiana's best state parks. We have many community theater options locally, and we have a number of top-notch schools, dining options and other attractions.
But how much have we invested in expanding our transportation infrastructure? It has been half a century since we last built an expressway here, and the South Shore Line hasn't been expanded since it was built well over a century ago.
It is time to make that commitment to expanding our transportation infrastructure. In particular, we need to expand the South Shore Line to the south and make service improvements along the original route.
Study after study has shown that Millennials are less fond of owning cars than older generations. They would rather use public transportation — a quality of life amenity in which Northwest Indiana is sorely deficient.
It is vital the Indiana General Assembly continue to fund the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority so this rail expansion can finally happen.
If we are to plug that population leak, if we are to attract and retain young people, we need to focus on making the region more attractive to young people — and not on maintaining the status quo that is driving them away.