NICTD President Michael Noland

The South Shore Line's plans for a more direct route to South Bend International Airport have taken another step forward.

Changes are coming to the South Shore Line's busing operation. Starting Monday, trains will be replaced by buses between Gary Metro Center and Carroll Avenue, as part of the railroad's Double Track project.

The South Shore Line continues pushing for a more direct route to South Bend Airport but isn't ruling out a future extension to the city's downtown.

Efforts to build a continuous bike trail from Chicago to Michigan continue to move forward. The remaining gaps in the 60-mile Marquette Greenway Trail are being filled one piece at a time, thanks to an infusion of state and federal funding.

The South Shore Line's train cars are getting some major upgrades. Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District crews are currently rehabbing 32 of the railroad's 1982-series cars for use on the future West Lake Corridor.

The South Shore Line hopes record-high gas prices and the end of mask mandates will bring riders back to the rails. Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District President Mike Noland told the NICTD Board Monday that he's cautiously optimistic, after the federal mask mandate for public transportation was repealed.

The South Shore Line's Double Track project is bringing plenty of disruption but no major problems, according to Mike Noland, the president of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.

The ability to buy South Shore Line tickets on the train could soon be going away.

While the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is moving ahead with the Double Track and West Lake Corridor projects, the railroad is also tackling smaller improvements to improve travel times.

Northwest Indiana's two commuter rail projects are underway and on schedule. Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District President Mike Noland says the Double Track project is finally being built. Construction on the West Lake Corridor will start in the next month or two, with design work now about 75 percent complete.