Competing Shore Shore station plans for South Bend, Ind., face growing costs
Competing plans to build a new South Shore Line station in South Bend, Ind. — one envisioning a downtown station, another for a relocated stop to replace the current terminus at the South Bend airport — have stalled several years after being floated, and each faces increasing expense. The South Bend Tribune reports the downtown station, preferred by the city — which would require new right-of-way, significant property acquisition, relocation of the city’s Amtrak stop, and demolition of buildings at a public housing complex — would cost at least $112 million, and perhaps as much as $200 million. Meanwhile, St. Joseph County’s preferred option — which would eliminate a long, indirect looping route to reach the current airport station — would cost at least $50 million, require demolition of 40 homes, and will require Federal Aviation Administration approval because of the need for tracks and catenary through a protected area near a runaway. Mike Noland, president of the South Shore’s parent, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, told the newspaper the station is now his top priority, with projects such as double-tracking between Gary and Michigan City, Ind., and a new spur line moving ahead. His desire is to find a proposal that can gain widespread approval.
Rockwood, Pa., seeks Capitol Limited stop
The Rockwood, Pa., area is asking two lobbying groups to help it pursue a stop on Amtrak’s Capitol Limited route. The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that Somerset County is reviving a decade-old effort to add the stop, but this time is willing to pursue a flag stop that could be added at lower cost than the original full-fledged stop which had an estimated cost of $3.9 million. When the idea was first considered, Amtrak estimated it would generate 2,100 passengers a year. The county, which already employs Washington-based lobbyist Pendulum Strategies and South Carolina-based Nelson Mullins on a $5,000-a-month contract to pursue a highway project, is asking their help in gaining support for the station plan. The newspaper says CSX Transportation has concerns about the idea, citing possible freight-train delays.
Vancouver’s TransLink to consider fare increase
The board of directors for TransLink, the transit agency for the Vancouver, British Columbia, area, will consider a 2.3% fare increase at a meeting on Thursday, after cancelling a planned increase last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The website Daily Hive reports the increase, which would be effective July 1, is capped at 2.3% under an agreement with the provincial and federal governments capping increases through 2024 in exchange for C$644 million in emergency funding. The increase would bring in about C$4 million annually.
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