Double Track project

The South Shore Line's Double Track service had a challenging rollout last week, according to Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) President Mike Noland.

A major investment in commuter rail is now complete. Governor Eric Holcomb joined other state and federal officials Monday to cut the ribbon on the South Shore Line's Double Track project.

South Shore Line trains will once again be replaced by buses midday Monday. Westbound trains 14 and 114 scheduled to arrive at Millennium Station at 10:28 and 11:12 a.m. will be replaced by buses between Carroll Avenue and Gary Metro Center — as will eastbound train 7 scheduled to leave Millennium Station at 8:45 a.m.

More service is coming to the South Shore Line, starting May 14. The railroad is overhauling its schedule with the completion of its Double Track project.

More busing is planned on the South Shore Line this week.

Valparaiso is pausing its South Shore Connect service, effective January 1. It provides bus transportation between the parking lot near Journeyman Distillery, Valparaiso University and the Dune Park South Shore station.

The South Shore Line plans to introduce cartoon animals and an activity passport to its marketing efforts, to try to get families with young kids to take the train to Chicago.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) board has agreed to issue up to $200 million in bonds to ease a potential bottleneck in Chicago. NICTD is partnering with Metra to convert a storage track into a fourth mainline track between 11th Street and Millennium Station, with new station platforms at Millennium and Van Buren. That would help make way for the 26 additional trains NICTD plans to run, once the Double Track and West Lake Corridor projects are complete.

U.S. 12 will close next week east of Gary, as work continues on the South Shore Line's Double Track project.

Northwest Indiana's commuter rail improvements continue to move forward.