South Shore Line double-track project wraps up in Indiana

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and other public officials on May 13 marked the completion of the $650 million double-track project on the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District's South Shore Line commuter-rail line between Gary and Michigan City.

The project added nearly 18 miles of new track over a 26-mile pathway. The project was designed to improve safety along the entire alignment, especially in Michigan City where the new alignment will remove the street-running tracks, eliminate 20 grade crossings and provide a safer environment for passengers boarding trains, according to a press release issued by the governor's office.

The upgrades will add more than 1,400 parking spaces and 14 additional weekday trains, and reduce travel time on the South Shore Line. The project included a new overhead contact system, 22 crossings, 20 culverts and platform upgrades to five stations, state officials said.

"Double tracking the South Shore Line is one of the largest infrastructure investment in the railroad’s history. With the additional track, high-speed crossovers and high-level boarding platforms now in place, we can deliver far superior commuter rail service to our riders, with greater train frequency, better on-time performance and dramatically reduced times to and from Chicago," said South Shore Line President Michael Noland.

The project was funded with a combination of federal, state and local dollars.