Latest news with #SouthShoreLine
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
South Shore Line fares from Indiana to Chicago increasing July 1
A previously approved fare increase takes effect on the first day of July for riders on the Indiana commuter train. It is the first fare increase in seven years, the agency said. Fares are increasing 10% rounded to the nearest quarter. So, for example, a one-way ride from Hegewisch to Zone 1 will increase from $6.25 to $7, and to Zone 2 from $5.50 to $6.25, or from South Bend to Zone 1 will increase from $14.25 to $15.75. Click here to see a full listing of new fare costs for single rides and multi-ride packs and passes. The South Shore Line said as part of the increase, they are enhancing discounts on multi-ride tickets for frequent travelers. A 10-ride ticket discount will go from 5% to 10%, and a 25-ride ticket discount will go from 10% to 20%. A monthly ticket comes with 33% savings based on a 21-day work month, the agency said.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
New train station is a first for NWI, state, seen as gateway to Michigan City's future
The new train station at 11th Street in downtown Michigan City is 'a gateway to our city's future that will serve generations to come,' Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch said at Wednesday's grand opening. The station and parking garage are the final piece of the Double Track NWI project. 'When someone asks what is TOD, just bring them here, and they'll recognize it right away,' said Michal Noland, general manager and president of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the South Shore Line. With the Double Track NWI project completed, the South Shore now operates an express train that can get riders from Michigan City to Millennium Station in downtown Chicago in just 67 minutes, Noland said. 'The whole skyline in Michigan City is going to be changed because of this,' Nelson Deuitch said. Attached to the new station is a mixed-use development still under construction. 'We pride ourselves on doing very complex mixed-use' developments, said David Flaherty, CEO and principal at Flaherty & Collins. The Michigan City project is the large developer's first transit-oriented development project in Indiana and its eighth overall. The $101 million investment is expected to result in $700,000 in real estate taxes and have an overall economic impact of $150 million over five years for Michigan City and the surrounding area, Flaherty said. The mixed-use project will have 220 residential units along with residential and retail spaces. The 547-space parking garage will be shared between South Shore passengers, residents and shoppers. Flaherty anticipates 300 people 'with good disposable' income moving to Michigan City, literally sharing the wealth as they patronize local businesses after returning home from high-paying jobs in Chicago. 'We will be attracting young professionals and baby boomers to this location,' he said. 'We want you to live in Indiana, spend all your money here.' 'It's walkable, it's bikeable, it's connected,' Flaherty said. He expects the Michigan City project to have a ripple effect on other stops with transit development districts along the South Shore's traditional route. For Flaherty & Collins, having the 11th Street train station incorporated into the parking garage is a first, Flaherty said. The station gives a strong nod to the railroad's history, starting with the historic terra cotta façade that was saved from the station that formerly stood on that spot. The façade was saved when the old building was razed and repurposed for the new structure. Inside are two large pictures that were black and white when they were created a century ago, but colorized to be displayed inside the station. Another display gives the history of the railroad, from 1901, when the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway, which would later become part of the South Shore Line, was incorporated, to today. A model South Shore train runs along a track overhead inside the station. Another one will be added later, Noland said. 'We really want this train station to be welcoming to the entire community,' he said. 'At core, this is an economic development project,' Noland said. 'It's the vision. It's what so many people envisioned when we sought funding.' Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority President and CEO Sherri Ziller is pleased with the development. 'This marks the end of a long, very long project for the RDA,' she said. 'Today, we can literally see that vision becoming a reality.' 'The point was really to unlock Michigan City's potential,' Ziller said. 'Michigan City, they've really been leading the charge. They've embraced the doubletrack project since Day 1,' she said. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan applauded the collaboration that led to the station's construction and the completion of the Double Track NWI project. 'This is an example of where the struggle is behind us. This is an example of where, in a bipartisan way, we all came together,' he said. 'We can achieve anything' when partisan disputes are set aside, Mrvan said. 'Let this be an example, a ripple effect for Northwest Indiana,' he said. The Double Track NWI project was completed on time and under budget, Noland said. Mrvan thanked organized labor for their efforts to make that happen. Former U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky and State Rep. Hal Slager used decades of political capital on this, Mrvan said. 'This train is not only something we can celebrate, but it's a catalyst,' he said. 'It's going to create jobs. It's going to create safer neighborhoods here in Michigan City.' 'I couldn't be more proud of the region than I am today,' Ziller said.
Chicago Tribune
05-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
South Shore Line seeks public input on future improvements
The Double Track NWI project is finished. The West Lake Corridor expansion is in the home stretch. The four track going into Millennium Station is well underway. Now the South Shore Line is seeking public input on what to do next. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the railroad, began seeking public comments Thursday on future improvements and priorities. The result will be a 20-year master plan to be approved later this year by the NICTD board of directors. There's discussion about possibly extending the rail line to LaPorte, and Valparaiso was a possibility when the West Lake Corridor project was still in the discussion stages. With the economic development boom in New Carlisle, including a massive new data center, the railroad is considering whether to close its Hudson Lake station, which draws only about three people a day, and open one in nearby New Carlisle. Some South Bend boosters want to see rail service downtown, restoring what was once there decades ago. Also on the table are improvements to existing rail facilities, including upgrading the rail cars and providing more services at stations. So far, the railroad has received more than 4,000 responses from riders during a separate survey, Director of Strategic Planning and Grants Kelly Wenger said. Employees were also surveyed. This survey is aimed at people who don't use the railroad. 'Ridership is increasing, our survey responses are increasing, everything's looking great,' she told the NICTD board at its meeting last week. The railroad also plans to have conversations with local, state and federal officials about what big plans the region has for the next 20 years. General Manager and President Michael Noland said some ideas that have been thrown out include considering shuttle trains between Michigan City and the South Bend airport and Metra upgrades for higher speed and bidirectional signaling. Adding capacity to the Metra system, like the $200 million fourth track being worked on now, helps South Shore Line service, too. With that fourth track, the South Shore will gain new platforms at the Van Buren and Millennium stations. 'Gary Metro is something that's high on the radar screen,' Noland said. That project likely would include a new station to serve both trains and buses, replacing the existing station. 'Can I throw a couple of ideas in on that plan,' asked Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, who serves on the board. The board members, who will ultimately adopt the new 20-year strategic plan later this year, will help railroad officials shape the plan, Noland assured him. 'By gathering public feedback early, we aim to better understand how we can continue building upon our commitment to providing efficient, reliable, and inclusive transportation that drives regional economic development, supports environmental sustainability, and strengthens vital connections to the Greater Chicago area,' says the introduction to the survey at This survey 'aims to identify barriers to ridership, community needs and the types of improvements that could encourage greater use of public transit,' the survey introduction says. The survey ends June 19.
Chicago Tribune
31-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
South Shore Line fares increasing July 1 in first jump since 2018
Fares for South Shore Line riders will increase an average of 10% on July 1 after a 4-1 vote by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District board. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton voted no Wednesday, explaining he had more questions about it before he could support it. General Manager and President Michael Noland said the fare increase comes after the railroad has depleted its savings following the COVID-19 pandemic. 'We have not had a fare increase on this RR since 2018,' he said. Planned increases were skipped when the pandemic caused ridership to plummet. As the railroad went to the Statehouse looking for additional funding, Noland said, state officials asked, 'What are you doing with respect to self-help?' The railroad has been conservative with its operating expenses and partnered with labor unions to find ways to reduce expenses and turn that into wages, he said. Still, a fare increase was needed. Noland said the fare increase will bring in about $1.25 million to $1.5 million in additional revenue annually. The fare increase is a big jump, at an average of 10%, but it's been a long time coming. The consumer price increase has gone up 'something like 35%' since 2018, he said. Future fare increases are likely, perhaps 5% every other year beginning July 1, 2027, if inflation is around 2.5% per year, he said. The railroad held five public hearings on the fare increases in April and May and solicited comments in writing and by email as well. 'We received feedback. No one ever raises their hand and says please, please, please raise our fares,' Noland said. The hearings in Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties didn't draw any attendees, Director of Strategic Planning and Grants Kelly Wenger said. 'We did not have a tremendous opposition to it,' Noland said. In implementing the fare increase, the railroad is eliminating its buy-one-get-one-free promotion for monthly tickets. 'We heavily discount our monthly tickets,' which have historically been the railroad's bread and butter, Noland said. 'They're still important riders to us,' but ridership trends are changing. The pandemic taught companies that employees working at home could still be productive. Fewer people working in an office five days a week means fewer riders each day. Now a lot of workers are in the office just two or three days a week, Noland said. They're not necessarily working 9 to 5 in the office, either. Some just need to be there in time for a 9:30 a.m. staff meeting and can leave earlier, affecting rush hour demand for trains. 'The monthly ticket doesn't make sense to them. They're not getting the value out of it,' Noland said. Instead, they might opt for a 10-ride or 25-ride ticket. With the new fare structure, a 10-ride ticket is discounted 10% over the single-ride rate. It previously was discounted 5%. A 25-ride ticket now will be discounted 20%, rather than 10%. The monthly ticket price is going up 10%. 'We're going to keep it. We're not going to get rid of it,' Noland said. It will be up to riders to decide which ticket best serves their needs. The railroad's overall ticket sales have jumped 32.4% for the first four months of this year, compared to the same period last year. One-way tickets are up 33.2%, and monthly tickets are up just 8%, the lowest increase of any type of ticket. 25-ride ticket sales are up 11.6% and 10-ride tickets are up 11.7%. The railroad offers reduced-price fares for senior citizens, active duty military, children under 13 and riders with disabilities. In addition, up to three children 13 and under can ride free when accompanied by a parent on weekend, holiday and off-peak weekday trains. Wenger, whose many duties include compliance officer for Title 6, which affects low-income and minority communities, said they're not adversely affected by the fare increase, based on 2024 ridership data. Hudson Lake, the one community showing a disparate impact for the new fare structure, was based on insufficient response for that community. Only one person responded to the survey. 'Hudson Lake on a good day has four riders,' Noland said. The last passenger count was three, Wenger said. 'We must have lost someone somewhere along the way.' On-time performance has improved dramatically in the past year even as more trains are operating. Weekly trains reporting on-time performance increased 142% and trains arriving within 10 minutes of scheduled arrival time are up 85%. Noland, looking at a chart on the performance increase, remarked, 'I wish my stock portfolio looked like that.' The board discussed potential impacts on ridership from external events. If the state decided to turn the Borman Expressway into a toll road, that 'likely would drive, from an economic standpoint, ridership to the South Shore Line,' Noland said. 'That shifts their mentality: Maybe you know what, I'm going to take the train,' he said. When the Dan Ryan Expressway was under construction, ridership hit an all-time high. Board chair Lyndsay Quist, who heads the Indiana Department of Transportation, said her agency did some preliminary work when the General Assembly talked this past session about tolling on the state's expressways but hasn't submitted a formal request to the federal government yet.
Chicago Tribune
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Around the Southland: Orland police promote autism awareness, Metra work, more
Orland Park police cruiser promotes autism awareness The Orland Park Police Department marked Autism Awareness Month and its Occupant with Autism program by showing off the department's new cruiser. The design's highlights include puzzle pieces wrapped around the vehicle, an autism awareness ribbon on the SUV's hood, and Occupant with Autism decal and QR code that links to the program on the rear window. The Occupant with Autism program involves using decals and a registration system that allows first responders to know people with autism live in homes or are driving or riding in vehicles. Free decals are available for Orland Park residents and nonresidents who work or attend school in the area. Residents also can register for the program without displaying a decal so first responders have that information when dispatched to the home or vehicle. 'We hope the community appreciates our efforts and will continue to work on enhancing interactions involving individuals with autism and the men and women of the Orland Park Police Department,' police Chief Eric Rossi shared in a news release. The registration form is available at Information is at AutismAwareness@ Metra Electric Line work starts this weekend Users of the Metra Electric Line will find themselves on buses for a portion of their ride May 3 and 4 and May 10 and 11 because of extensive construction as a result of the South Shore Line's expansion plans. Train service will end and begin at the 18th Street Station, with buses used instead of trains between Millennium and 18th, and the Sunday schedule will be used on Saturdays as well those weekends. The Van Buren Street and Museum Campus/11th Street stations will be closed. Buses will shuttle riders via the McCormick Place busway between the Millennium and 18th Street stations. Buses will not stop at the Museum Campus/11th Street or Van Buren Street stations. Pace paratransit vehicles will shuttle ADA riders via the McCormick Place busway between Millennium and McCormick Place stations but will not stop at the Museum Campus, Van Buren Street or 18th Street stations. Customer service agents will be available. The $650 construction project expands NICTD's South Shore service and includes track realignments and upgrades to the system that supplies power to the trains. Mental health community fair set at H-F High School Homewood-Flossmoor High School and the Live Free 999 Foundation have joined forces to offer a mental health community event May 5 in the Performing Arts Center Blackbox Theater at the school, 999 Kedzie Ave., Flossmoor. A panel discussion is set for 7 to 8 p.m. and resource tables will be available before and after the talk. RSVP at because space is limited. Host Carmela Wallace founded Live Free 999 in honor of her son to normalize conversations about mental health and substance dependency while providing young people with vital resources. The foundation honors late artist and Chicago native Jarad Higgins, aka Juice WORLD, who attended Homewood-Flossmoor. Homewood-Flossmoor families are invited to the event, which includes students, mental health professionals and community partners to break the stigma of mental health, share insights and offer support. Other presenters include school psychologist Kofi Shuck and counselor Kizawanda Olowe, both of H-F H.S.; students from Bring Change 2 Mind; Terri McKean of NAMI Chicago; representatives from SunCloud Health; Sarah Whitson of the Crisis Text Line; and comedian and parent Correy Bell. The community fair follows Shatter the Silence: Mental Health Day 2025, a program held April 28 at H-F H.S., with the goal of empowering students with the knowledge, support and tools they need for mental well-being. Stagg H.S. thespians earn honors at state contest Cast and crew of Stagg High School's play 'Antigone' competed at this year's Illinois High School Association Drama State Competition in Oak Lawn, and senior Nora Mackey and junior Sophia Bravo were named All State Cast for their performances. Mackey portrayed Antigone, and Bravo had the role of Teiresias. Other cast members were Sophia Sochacki, Simon Gallovitch, Nicholas Lellos, Aviana Salas, Brynna Siewers, Casper De Boer, Gina Rabadi, Mia Lewandowski, Byron Kelaiditis, Marcus Furzcon and Lorene Paulson. Crew members were Mariya Kunnnengode, Abigail Chereb, Sydney Anderson, Jocelyn Jimenz Noemi Rynkiewicz, Kalleigh Miskoivic, Karina Lotysz, Jack Dalton, Natalia Knapik, Mary Chapman, Matt Busch, Julian Arambula, Abigail Carlson, Andrea Bareika and Leah Anderson. Palos Park Woman's Club hosts Mother's Day Walk The third annual Mother's Day Walk Presented by the Palos Park Woman's Club steps off rain or shine at 8 a.m. May 10 at Lake Katherine, 7402 Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights. The walk ends at 10:30 a.m. Friends, families and neighbors are invited to celebrate mothers while supporting local causes. A 1-mile wood chip path around the lake or a 2-mile paved path along the Cal-Sag Trail are available, with water stops along the way. Local artisans will be featured, offering hand-crafted gifts in time for Mother's Day. Registration costs $30 for adults and $20 for children younger than 18; children 2 and younger are free. It's available online at The event is part of the club's mission to foster community connections and give back, with proceeds supporting scholarships, local outreach efforts and service initiatives. Bluegrass benefit boosts Frankfort's free music festival Fans of bluegrass music are invited to the Frankfort Bluegrass Festival all-volunteer committee's benefit from 6 to 10 p.m. May 9 at CD & Me, 23320 S. LaGrand Road, Frankfort. The event will raise money for the annual free Frankfort Bluegrass Festival, set for July 12 and 13. Advance tickets cost $45 and include music, heavy appetizers, beverages and beer tastings. Tickets cost $10 more at the door. Cash bar, raffles, silent auctions and split the pot raffle will be available. Parking is free. Three bands will perform: Wheels North, The Grateful String Band and Anderlik, Otto & Church. For tickets, visit
