9/10/2015 Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District September 10, 2015 Meeting Agenda . West Lake Project Overview . Environmental Process . Overview of Support Facilities . Munster/Dyer Main St. Station . Munster/Dyer Facility Site Locations . Schedule and Next Steps 2 1 9/10/2015 Project Overview . FTA and NICTD are Conducting an Environmental Review of the West Lake Corridor . The Study includes Rail Based Service between the Munster/Dyer area and Metra’s Millennium Station in Downtown Chicago . The Study evaluates Alignments, Stations and Operating Facility Locations in the Corridor 3 West Lake Project Overview . 9-Mile Extension of Existing South Shore Line (SSL) . 12 Trains per Weekday . 4 Stations in Hammond, Munster, and Dyer . Maintenance Facility . Options for Alignment, Stations, Maintenance and Layover Facilities 4 2 9/10/2015 Alternative Options . Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) Alignment . Hammond Design Option Alignment . Station Options – Hammond – Munster . Maintenance Facility – Hammond – 2 sites – Munster/Dyer . Layover Facility – Munster/Dyer 5 Why So Many Alternatives? . Required to evaluate all feasible alternatives meeting the purpose and need of the project . To consider and evaluate each alternative in a comparable level of detail . To avoid any indication of a bias towards a particular alternative(s) . Field work is included for all alternatives minimizing the need for additional investigation 6 3 9/10/2015 National Environmental Policy Act NEPA Umbrella Key Considerations: . Historic and Archeological . Transportation . Noise and Vibration . Land Use and Acquisitions . Visual and Aesthetics . Economic Development . Water and Ecological . Neighborhoods and . Farmlands Community Facilities . Hazardous Materials . Environmental Justice . Safety and Security . Parks and Recreational . Short-Term Construction 7 Environmental Impact Statement Process WE ARE HERE Scoping and Draft EIS Final EIS Screening Record of • Prepare Technical Decision • Identify Issues Reports • Develop and • Prepare Draft EIS • Respond to screen alternatives on remaining comments alternatives • Prepare Final EIS • Circulate Draft EIS • Prepare Record • Hold Public of Decision Hearings • Prepare request to enter Project Development 4 9/10/2015 Stations . Boarding Platforms . Shelters . Parking . Multi-Modal Access Hegewisch Station, SSL Dune Park Station, SSL East Chicago Station, SSL 9 Vehicle Technology . Existing South Shore Electric Trains 10 5 9/10/2015 Maintenance Facility . Shop Building for Maintenance of Vehicles . Storage Tracks . Parking and Support Facilities Denton County A-Train Maintenance Facility Layover Facility . Welfare Building for Crew . Storage Tracks for Overnight Layover . Parking Metra Electric District – Richton Layover 11 Operations Facilities If maintenance facility is here… …layover facility is needed here 6 9/10/2015 Operations Facilities Munster/Dyer Station and Maintenance Facility – inspect, repair, clean, and store vehicles St. Main Munster / Dyer Maintenance Facility Operations Facilities Munster/Dyer Station and Layover Facility – overnight or mid-day storage, light interior cleaning and minor repairs, St. Main 7 9/10/2015 Layover Facility Conceptual Layout . Rendering Perspective – Looking Southwest Crew Facility Crew Parking Station Parking 15 West Lake Overall Project Schedule 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 AA Project Engineering Environmental Construction Impact Development Statement SCOPING LPA FTA PROJECT FEDERAL START UP DRAFT ROD/ FTA FULL GRANT 2023 EIS FEIS FUNDING APPLICATION GRANT 16 8 9/10/2015 Next Steps . Public Workshops – November 2015 . DEIS Public Hearings – Spring 2016 . DEIS Public Review – Spring 2016 . Begin Project Development – Summer 2016 17 Key to Success: Partnerships Community, Stakeholder & Agency Partners 9 9/10/2015 How Can You Participate and Stay Informed – Project Website: http://www.nictdwestlake.com/ – Email: [email protected] – Call: 219-250-2920 – Mail: NICTD West Lake Corridor Project 33 East U.S. Highway 12 Chesterton, IN 46304 19 Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District 10 .