INNOVATE INDIANA

CURRENT STATE OF THE REGION
& QUALITY OF PLACE
The South Shore line provides a distinct
opportunity to improve connectivity to
Chicago and its world-class economy
and amenity base. Increasingly, Northern
Indiana residents will seek employment
in Chicago, which on average earns 40%
more than similar jobs in Northern Indiana.
These wages are returned to Indiana and
reinvested in the community to purchase
homes, goods and services. Furthermore,
a faster, more reliable commuter rail
connection opens Northern Indiana to
new investment by new knowledge-based
industries where talent is attracted to
low property taxes, superior housing,
good schools and other quality of
place attributes.
The South Bend International Airport’s
three air carriers provide nonstop flights to
10 cities with connections worldwide. South
Bend International’s multi-modal terminal
serves over one million air, rail, and bus
passengers each year and has a total
[22] http://stjoevalleymetronet.org
annual economic impact on South Bend
and surrounding communities in excess
of $1.7 billion.
Public transit services such as Transpo
and an Inter-urban Trolley are available in
certain parts of the region. Stakeholders
are concerned however, that transit
connectivity between communities is
limited, and where it is available, it is not as
convenient as in other cities.
COMMUNICATIONS CONNECTIONS
A large number of infrastructure systems
converge in the region as their routes
pass below Lake Michigan. In addition to
roadway and power transmission systems,
this convergence includes many North
American fiber optic long-haul carriers. In
fact, St. Joseph County has what is believed
to be the largest concentrations of fiber
optic long-haul carriers in the United States
all centrally managed through Union Station
Technology Center.
The South Shore line provides a distinct
opportunity to improve connectivity to
Chicago and its world-class economy
and amenity base
SECTION 4
A major private
not-for-profit dark
fiber network,
St. Joe Valley
Metronet [22]
provides direct
connection
opportunities for
area businesses.
REGIONALCITIESOFNORTHERNINDIANA.ORG |
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STATE OF THE REGION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE REGION ENGAGED CURRENT TRENDS VISION & STRATEGY PROJECTS
& QUALITY OF PLACE
STAKEHOLDERS, EXECUTION
& STRUCTURAL CHANGES
BENCHMARKING
& MEASUREMENT
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT