May 2017 Fact Sheet
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Alternatives documentation. needed level of NEPA Class NEPA Analysis environmental impacts and of Actionof Determine 2014 project’s Project Fact Sheet Issue Notice Notice Issue Prepare EIS of Intent to Identify Issues Scoping to Scoping Conduct Environmental Impact Statement Scoping & Screening us to start expanding access to amenities that commuter rail offers. rail access commuter that us to start to amenities expanding Environmental ImpactStatement Process 2015 Screen Alternatives Talent retention and attraction are critically important to the important attraction critically and retention are Talent growth of the Northwest Indiana economy. Now is the time for for the is time Now economy. growth the Indiana of Northwest for Inclusion in Developand Project Overview What is the EIS Process? Draft EIS The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was prepared for the (NICTD) existing South Shore Line (SSL) provides a vital Project, with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as the transportation link that connects Northwest Indiana to Chicago Federal Lead Agency and NICTD as the Local Project Sponsor and Cook County, Illinois. NICTD is proposing the West Lake responsible for implementing the Project. This study initiates the Draft EIS Corridor Project as a southern branch extension of the SSL route federal environmental review process for the West Lake Corridor 2016 Draft EIS on Alternatives Remaining Request to to Request Prepare Prepare Enter PD to reach high-growth areas in Lake County, Indiana. The project Project in compliance with the National Environmental Policy would expand NICTD’s service coverage, improve mobility and Act (NEPA), as well as provisions of US DOT’s Fixing America’s < Agency Coordination and Public Involvement Throughout > Throughout Involvement Public and Coordination < Agency accessibility, and stimulate local job creation and economic Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). development opportunities for Lake County. Circulate Draft EIS and Hold Public Hearings The purpose of the environmental review process is to promote Development Project FEIS &ROD Adoption The West Lake Corridor Project would be an approximate informed decision-making by considering the potential ofLPA Submit New Starts New Submit 9-mile southern extension of existing SSL between Dyer and environmental and social impacts of the Project. The FTA and 2017 ProjectRating Publish FEIS/ROD Publish Begin Real Estate Real Begin Hammond, Indiana. Trains on the new branch line would connect NICTD will engage regulatory agencies with a defined interest in Acquisition with the existing SSL and ultimately Metra Electric District’s the Project and the public who could potentially be affected by – Heather Ennis, President/CEO, Northwest Indiana Forum Northwest Indiana President/CEO, Ennis, – Heather (MED) line to the north. The proposed project would provide the Project. The environmental review process is structured to and MitigationRequirements Combined in FEIS/ROD IncludeProposed Actions,Environmental Findings andPrepare Combined FEIS/ROD Respond toComments on DraftEIS new transit service between Dyer, Indiana and Metra’s encourage participation between government officials, agencies, PublishFEIS/ROD Begin Real Estate Acquisition Millennium Station in Downtown Chicago, Illinois, a total private businesses, and citizens. distance of approximately 29 miles. 2018 Engineering Key Milestones Project Cost • EIS Process: 2014 to 2017 Current estimate for the project, with the addition • Engineering and Construction: 2017 to 2022 of the Gateway Station in Hammond, is $615M. • Project Completion: 2022 Capital costs will be updated as the project and design are further refined. 2019 Grant Agreement FullFunding Approximate length: 4 Stations 9 Miles dedicated guideway 2020 Operating Schedule: Parking: 12 trips to/from Millennium Station in Each proposed station concept design Chicago (weekday peak) includes a parking lot and a pick-up/ Construction 12 trips connecting to SSL trains at drop-off area. Hammond Gateway (weekday off-peak) 20 trips connecting to SSL trains at 2021 Hammond Gateway Station (Saturday Maintenance & Storage: ROD = Record of Decision FEIS Final = Environmental Impact Statement EIS Environmental = Impact Statement FTA = Federal TransitAgency LPA =LocallyPreferred Alternative PD = Project Development NEPA= National EnvironmentalPolicy Act & Sunday) Combined and separate facilities were Current Activity comments during EIS process opportunitypublic Formal for considered in Hammond and near the Munster/Dyer border. Travel Time: 47 Minutes Munster/Dyer Main Street Operations Revenue Begin to Millennium in Chicago 2022 Sustainability Focus: 14 Minutes Munster/Dyer Main Street Registered with ISI’s Envision to Hammond Gateway Station Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System. HOW TO REACH US: NICTD West Lake Corridor Project, 33 East U.S. Highway 12, Chesterton, IN 46304 www.nictdwestlake.com | [email protected] | automated phone: 219.250.2920 West Lake Corridor | Project Fact Sheet WEST LAKE CORRIDOR PROJECT MAP - HAMMOND, IN TO DYER, IN CHICAGO WHITING Lake 90 Frequently Asked Questions Calumet Wolf Lake 12 Where can I read the Draft Environmental 41 Impact Statement (DEIS)? The DEIS can be reviewed on the Resources page at When would properties be acquired? 912 www.nictdwestlake.com. Hard copies of the DEIS are available at: It is expected that NICTD will begin negotiations to acquire 94 initial properties in late 2017 continuing throughout 2018. Little Calumet River HEGEWISCH • Hammond Public Library | 564 State St, Hammond, IN 46320 Pulaski Park • Lake County Public Library, Dyer-Schererville Branch | How will the construction of the project Powder EAST Horn Lake CHICAGO 1001 W Lincoln Hwy, Schererville, IN 46375 affect my business or me? Burnham HAMMOND BURNHAMElementary • Lake County Public Library, Munster Branch | The construction of the project will have short term effects during School Hermit St Casimir School construction. Construction activities can temporarily affect access DOLTON Park 20 8701 Calumet Ave, Munster, IN 46321 BEGIN IMPROVEMENT • NICTD Administrative Offices | 33 East U.S. Highway 12, to businesses or require detours to traffic. Some construction 312 Chesterton, IN 46304 noise and other inconveniences can be expected adjacent to the Washington Irving alignment. Information regarding construction staging and short- 83 HAMMOND GATEWAY Elementary School 90 EAST CHICAGO How much will the project cost and how term effects would be communicated with the public. 41 Calumet River will it be funded? Grand CALUMET Current estimate for the project, with the addition of the Where are stations being considered? CITY Henry W Gateway Station in Hammond, is $615M. Capital costs will be Three stations locations were considered in Hammond, one Harrison Park Eggers School Dr MLK Park updated as the project and design are further refined. station in Munster, and one station near the border of Munster Oak Hill Hammond Memorial Park and Dyer. However, each of the Build Alternatives considered Cemetery High School 6 Maywood When the proposed West Lake Corridor Project is fully advanced in the DEIS would include four stations. The combination and Elementary School HAMMOND through the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts process, it is location of stations for each Build Alternative is described in 94 Greenway Burnham Concordia Cemetery anticipated that the New Starts program will provide approximately more detail in the DEIS. SOUTH 152 HOLLAND Veterans Park Edison Park 50 percent of the Project’s capital cost. The non-New Starts costs Monon Trail Monon will be covered by a combination of funding sources, including How will parking be handled at stations? Reavis SOUTHThomas Edison HAMMOND Elementary Elementary School funding from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Each proposed station concept design includes a parking lot School and a pick-up/drop-off area. NICTD will work with the host 94 80 Authority, the State of Indiana, and local communities. THORNTON Bock Park Lions Park community in later phases of the project to determine how Riverside Park 94 80 How will the acquisition of property parking operations will be handled for each station. It is possible Pennsy Greenway Little Calumet be handled? the operation and maintenance will be the responsibility of the River Trail host community. Under this scenario, it is possible that a parking LANSING In order to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed MUNSTER RIDGE ROAD West Lake Corridor Commuter Rail Project, it will be necessary fee would be assessed. Host communities will be offered the LAKE COUNTY COOK COUNTY COOK Oakwood Munster for NICTD to acquire private property. When property is opportunity to be fully engaged in the design of parking and Park Community Park identified to be acquired, other measures will have already been station facilities. Nathan Hale HIGHLAND Elementary School considered to lessen and mitigate the amount of acquisition MUNSTER and the impact on property owners. The final determination of Where will the maintenance and storage GLENWOOD Heritage Middle School 394 Rotary Hammond properties to be acquired will continue throughout our planning facility sites be located? Park School and engineering process. The maintenance facility in the Locally Preferred Alternative is Centennial north of the Grand Calumet River in Hammond, west of Sheffield Park Local, state, and federal