INNOVATE INDIANA

MARQUEE PROJECT III | SECTION 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE REGION ENGAGED CURRENT TRENDS
STATE OF THE REGION
& QUALITY OF PLACE
MARQUEE PROJECT III
SOUTH SHORE TRAIN:
CONNECTING CHICAGO
VISION & STRATEGY
South Shore Train: Connecting Chicago is a $270 million eight year project supported
through an active inter-regional collaboration of the Northern Indiana RDA, LaPorte County
and the Northwest Indiana RDA. The regions recognize that in working together, they will
most efficiently and effectively be able to leverage this asset – by improving the frequency,
reliability, and speed of this critical linkage between South Bend and Chicago, and all of the
communities in between.
It is vital that we enhance connectivity to the nation’s 3rd largest economy, where jobs
on average pay 40% more than similar jobs in northern Indiana. This plan will establish
Northern Indiana as the newest suburb of Chicago and provide the foundation for
competing with Chicago’s north and west suburbs.
PROJECTS
STAKEHOLDERS, EXECUTION
& STRUCTURAL CHANGES
Summary
The Northern Indiana Commuter Train
District (NICTD) Board adopted a strategic
business plan in 2014 identifying a series
of infrastructure investments that will
significantly reduce travel time to 90 minutes
between South Bend and Chicago.
There are four phases to the project, with the
line traversing through St. Joseph, LaPorte,
Lake, and Porter counties and serving all of
the cities and towns within. Phases 1 and 2
are included in the RCNI funding request
REGIONALCITIESOFNORTHERNINDIANA.ORG |
80
BENCHMARKING
& MEASUREMENT
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT