SAVING COMMUTER RAIL IN INDIANA

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is working to enable the electric interurban commuter railroad to continue to offer service between Chicago, Illinois and South Bend, Indiana. While the railroad has successfully maintained its right-of-way, it is unable to purchase new rolling stock. In 1976, the South Shore filed a petition requesting permission to discontinue its passenger service. Studies were made which considered the issue of whether or not state matching funds, under Indiana's program to match UMTA grants should go to the South Shore if the railroad was about to go out of passenger business. The study found that continuation of service was the lowest cost of nine alternatives that were considered, and provided the most benefits for such factors as energy use, environment, safety, travel time, economic impact with the corridor, highway congestion and parking in Chicago's loop. It was found that much of the problem associated with operating aid is in determining exactly what the deflict is that would have to be reimbursed by a combination of state, local and federal funds.