NICTD mulls South Shore Line fare hike to cover PTC costs

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) is considering a 5 percent fare increase for the South Shore Line to help pay for positive train control (PTC) implementation.

The proposal would include a 50-cent increase in the price of a one-way ticket from Chicago to Hammond, Indiana. The price hike would apply to all stations except the stop in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood. Metra controls fares for that station.

If approved, the new fares would take effect July 1, NICTD officials said in a press release.

NICTD has scheduled five public hearings next month to gather comment on the proposed fare increase.

The agency is financing its PTC installation through a $100 million bond issue, The Times of Northwest Indiana reported. That project is slated for completion by year's end, which is the federal deadline to implement PTC.

However, several other commuter railroads in the United States may miss the Dec. 31 deadline or qualify for an extension, according to a recent U.S. Government Accountability report.