BY HEATHER AUGUSTYN, Times of Northwest Indiana Correspondent
CHESTERTON | The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District's board heard details Friday of a proposed relocation of the portion of the South Shore commuter rail line that departs from the South Bend Regional Airport terminal.
John Schalliol, the airport's executive director, presented the results from a public workshop held last Wednesday in South Bend that addressed the environmental impact of the project. He said the relocation is critical to the railroad.
"We will save approximately 12 minutes and close down 12 to 23 crossings, and to a railroad, that's huge. We want to try to do the same thing in the future in Michigan City, passing the line to the south," said Schalliol, who added he hopes the entire ride from South Bend to Chicago soon can be two hours in length.
Schalliol, speaking at NICTD's monthly board meeting, said residents in the area of the relocation had mostly positive views of the project and, with more than 200 people in attendance, the workshop proved successful.
"The FAA is reviewing this shortly after October 12th, and I would anticipate a two-month turnaround. By the end of the year, there will be a full-court press to finish this project, with completion by Thanksgiving 2007," Schalliol said.
Gerald Hanas, general director of NICTD, told the board of plans for additional cars to the fleet. He said the need is sparking the project.
"Our ridership has been booming," Hanas said. "We need 14 cars, and we're looking at what financial instrument we can use to make this work.
"With 14 cars, it makes the transaction a little larger in terms of dollars, so we're more attractive to leasing companies," said Hanas, noting the financing will come from a combination of sources, including possible NIRPC, INDOT and lease funds.
The new cars will feature an upper level with longitudinal seating and a total of 120 seats and a toilet. Current cars contain 93 seats on a motorized car and 130 seats on a trailer car.
"We're going to start with taking bids next week," said Hanas, adding that it takes at least 18 months to get the cars from the manufacturer.