CHESTERTON, Ind. — The start of service on South Shore Line’s new West Lake Corridor, the 9-mile spur between Hammond and Dyer, Ind., has slipped back further, and now is not likely until at least the end of this year, General Manager Mike Noland said in a recent message to riders.
The message on the South Shore website also addresses a fare increase set to take effect on July 1, and preceded the launch of a survey by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District about the future direction of the agency.
At one time, South Shore had been projecting the new line — to be known as the Monon Corridor when operations begin — would open in May, but issues involving installation of a bridge at the Dyer station had pushed that back to a more recent target date in October.
Now, however, the start date has slipped back further following the discovery that some construction needs to be reworked to install required low-voltage current isolation measures. “These measures are standard practices for electrified railroads like ours and are necessary to avoid potential corrosion to nearby utilities,” Noland wrote in the message. “We are currently in discussions with our contractor regarding the process to implement this corrective action.
Noland’s letter also addressed the 10% increase approved in May by the NICTD board. He said
the agency put off the increase as long as possible, but it was necessary because of a drop in ridership and associated revenue following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as “inflationary pressures exceeding 30%.” Noland noted that the South Shore has avoided the “fiscal cliff” facing other transit agencies thanks to state funding for the next two years, and said work will continue to develop a long-term solution.
When the new fares go into effect, the agency will increase the discounts on its 10-ride tickets from 5% to 10%, and on its 25-ride tickets from 10% to 20%. The new discounts, he said, reflects the changes in work patterns coming from an increase in work-at-home options for commuters.
Survey seeks opinions to shape 20-year plan
The NICTD has also launched an online survey to address its 20-year strategic plan, which it says is specifically seeking participation from individuals who do not currently ride the South Shore. Public input, it says, “will help pinpoint current needs, identify community priorities, and uncover new opportunities. The final plan will emphasize modernizing infrastructure, increasing accessibility, and strengthening connections throughout Northwest Indiana, South Bend, Chicago, and beyond.”
The survey opened on June 5 and will be available through June 19 at this page on the South Shore website.
