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APPENDIX V Public Outreach This Page Intentionally Left Blank APPENDIX V Public Outreach This page intentionally left blank. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Public Workshop Materials October 2016 WELCOME The purpose of this workshop is to: » Kick off and explain the Project Development and Environmental Assessment (EA) process. » Discuss the purpose and need for the Double Track Northwest Indiana (NWI) project. » Review project alignment and proposed improvements. » Identify issues to be addressed during design and environmental review. » Provide the opportunity for you to ask questions and provide feedback. A presentation will begin at 6:15 p.m., followed by an Open House. Staff members are available for questions throughout the Open House. October 2016 TELL US WHAT YOU THINK We want to hear from you! We encourage you to attend public workshops, sign up for the project mailing list, and visit the website and South Shore Line Facebook page for project updates and announcements. Formal commenting period is open through October 24, 2016 ; however, input is welcome at any time. Leave us your comments by: Filling out a comment form today; Viewing the online meeting and commenting at: www.doubletrack-nwi.com; Emailing your comments to: [email protected]; or Mailing your comments to: South Shore Line Attn: Double Track NWI 33 East U.S. Highway 12 Chesterton, IN 46304 You may also request a meeting or presentation to your group by calling Nicole Barker, South Shore Line at (219) 926-5744, x 313. October 2016 PROJECT OVERVIEW The South Shore Line , in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), has begun preliminary engineering and environmental review to install a second track along the 25.1-mile segment of the South Shore Line between Gary and Michigan City. The South Shore Line is an important component of northwestern Indiana’s transportation system. By adding a second track, we can reduce the number of delays, improve the travel time between northwestern Indiana and Chicago, and offer more trips. Proposed improvements include: » Constructing a second track from Gary to Michigan City, generally parallel to the existing track; » !"#$%&'"'()*+)%+[&'+*)-).%(*/+-(0 » Removal of embedded street-running track in Michigan City. The South Shore Line’s current planning efforts, coupled with station area planning underway at Miller and Michigan City, are the building blocks to develop a long term, sustainable solution for competitive, reliable passenger rail service in northwest Indiana. October 2016 PROJECT NEED The South Shore Line (SSL) is a vital transportation link between northwestern Indiana and Chicago. The purpose of the Double Track NWI Project is to improve local and express service , accommodate more passengers, reduce passenger travel times, and improve system mobility, reliability, and safety. Improvements to Local and Express Service Currently, there are several areas of the SSL where the single track causes delay. Causes of train delays include: » 1.".)'0+#-**.(2+%##%$)3(.).'*+4%$+#-**'(2'$+)$-4[5+-(0+4$'.26)+)$-4[5 • 20 westbound SSL trains • 21 eastbound SSL trains • 14 to 18 Chicago South Shore & South Bend freight trains daily » Enroute track or equipment failure » Planned and emergency maintenance » Slow boarding times from low-level platforms » Restrictive signal delays October 2016 PROJECT NEED The South Shore Line (SSL) is a vital transportation link between northwestern Indiana and Chicago. The purpose of the Double Track NWI Project is to improve local and express service, accommodate more passengers , reduce passenger travel times, and improve system mobility, reliability, and safety. Accommodate More Passengers » Rush hour trains currently have more riders than available seats. » Forecasts and ridership modeling predict a 28% gain in ridership by 2033, even if no improvements are made to the SSL. October 2016 PROJECT NEED The South Shore Line (SSL) is a vital transportation link between northwestern Indiana and Chicago. The purpose of the Double Track NWI Project is to improve local and express service, accommodate more passengers, reduce passenger travel times , and improve system mobility, reliability, and safety. Reduce Travel Time Travel time between Michigan City and Chicago on the SSL is longer than a trip by car. Travel times on the train are impacted by: » Extended waiting times for passing trains, and even more delay if they are behind schedule » Boarding from low-level platforms at some stations » Freight operations that can block the single track » Planned or emergency maintenance of the track » Limited areas where trains can pass Morning Rush Hour Travel Times Between Between Michigan City and Chicago Gary and Chicago 1 hour 1 hour 39 minutes 4 minutes 1 hour 1 hour 25 minutes 5 minutes October 2016 PROJECT NEED The South Shore Line (SSL) is a vital transportation link between northwestern Indiana and Chicago. The purpose of the Double Track NWI Project is to improve local and express service, accommodate more passengers, reduce passenger travel times, and improve system mobility, reliability, and safety . Improve Safety In Michigan City, safety concerns include: » Unprotected at-grade crossings » Street-running track that shares travel space with pedestrians, cyclists, and cars » Passengers boarding at 11 th Street in the middle of the street, without a platform October 2016 PROJECT OUTCOMES Constructing this project will result in: DECREASED INCREASED Travel Time Service INCREASED IMPROVED Safety Reliability MORE COMPETITIVE INCREASED Travel Options Economic Benefits October 2016 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The South Shore Line is developing an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. Part of the EA process is evaluating options that best meet the project Purpose and Need, but also minimize impacts to the community and natural resources. The South Shore Line is gathering data to determine if there will be impacts to the following: » Historic Structures and Districts » Parks, Trails, and Recreation Areas, including Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes State Park » Wetlands and Streams » Social and Economic Environment » Threatened and Endangered Species » 7$'.26)+8$-4[5 » Special Waste Sites » Property Ownership To see details about existing environmental resources near the project area, locate the area of interest on the Map Index and refer to the corresponding page in one of the Map Books provided. October 2016 BUILD ALTERNATIVE For the majority of the corridor, the Build Alternative will consist of adding a second track to the north LONG or south of the existing single track. BEACH ¡¢12 TO LAKE SOUTHâ BEND Station MICHIGAN Project Trackage ¡¢35 ST MICHIGAN ES CITY R LL AVE LL BEVERLY TH 1 O O 1 SHORES R SH ¡¢421 R A Y Y TOWN OF L PINES C ER EV B K R ¡¢20 A P Project Trackage E (MP 58.4 to MP 33.3) N U D DUNE . ACRES O O C C E R E BURNS RT T R HARBOR PO O A P OGDEN L 12 DUNES ¡¢ PORTER ¨¦§94 R S E E GARY METRO CTR ¬249 N « LL I U â M GARY D CHESTERTON §80 EN ¨¦ TO D CHICAGO 20 G ¡¢ O 90 LAKE ¨¦§ E/ PORTAGE STATION G A T R «¬149 PO ¨¦§80 PROJECT TRACKAGE NEW «¬53 CHICAGO «¬49 . 6 . ¡¢ O C SOUTH E ER CO O K HAVEN RT A L PO 0 2 4 WESTVILLE MILES HOBART «¬51 «¬2 ¨¦§65 «¬130 ¡¢6 MERRILLVILLE WHEELER SALT CREEK ¡¢421 COMMONS 9/29/2016 VALPARAISO October 2016 MILLER STATION Improvements » Two high-level platforms » Build two 8-car storage tracks for additional rush hour trains » INDOT to relocate US 12 to merge with US 20 further east; vacated right- of-way will be used for the double track realignment at the station » Station and parking improvements and Transit- Oriented Development by Gary » Construct bridges over CSX Transportation Railway and Hobart Road October 2016 MICHIGAN CITY 11 TH ST STATION Improvements » Construct two new tracks south of the 10 th Street right-of-way from Sheridan Avenue to Chicago Street, where it crosses Amtrak » Construct two new tracks along 11 th Street » Remove street-running rail » Construct two high-level platforms and new station house at 11 th Street Station » Convert 11 th Street to one- !"#$"%&'$&(")[+$ » Additional parking Renderings are conceptual only. All details are subject to change as the project is further developed. October 2016 OTHER STATION IMPROVEMENTS Portage/ Dune Park Beverly Shores Ogden Dunes Improvements include: Improvements include: Improvements include: » A second boarding platform » Two ADA-accessible (using » Re-aligning Calumet Trail portable lift) low-level » Two new high-level under SR 49 Bridge platforms platforms » » Additional parking No impact to historic station » Additional parking building October 2016 PROCESS AND SCHEDULE 2016 2017 Spring Summer Fall Winter Spring Summer Fall Winter Purpose and Need • Develop and Alternatives • Select preferred evaluate alternative alternatives Public Review Environmental Surveys Environmental Assessment (EA) FONSI* of EA 97.(0.(2+%4+:%+;.2(.[5-()+!"#-5)<+.4+-##$%#$.-)' Preliminary Engineering PublicPu bl Input: Comment or request a presentation any time at DoubleTrackNWI.com Next Steps: Secure Funding July 2017 OctoberOc 2016 Final Design Public Hearings We are here PublicPu bl Workshops Construction to begin in 2019 This page intentionally left blank. Meetings and Presentations September 18, 2017 Organization(s) Date/Time Est. # attendees Type Rotary Crown Point 2/8/2015 40 Community Unity Foundation 8/22/2016 1 Community NIPSCO / NICTD Coordination Meeting 8/25/2016 Utilities National Park Service 9/7/2016 Agency US Army Corps of Engineers 9/8/2016 Agency Indiana Dunes National
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