NellieBly wrote:Er...if anyone actually reads the application by Indiana for FRA money, the proposed route is the "southern route", and it will NOT go through South Bend or Elkhart.
http://www.in.gov/indot/files/IN_CHI_CL ... ack2_3.doc (word document linked from
http://www.in.gov/indot/3064.htm ).
"Communities served along the 354 mile “southern” route include Chicago, the Gary Regional Airport, Plymouth, Warsaw, Fort Wayne, Defiance, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria and Cleveland (southern route
assumed for purposes of this application)."
It is an assumption for the purposes of the request. Hopefully that is all it is, but I suspect politics are at play.
Media reports are saying that the "northern route" is still in play. (
http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=495793 )
At any rate, INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield noted that those studies are several years old. If the INDOT application is approved, further inquiries would be necessary to select which is the best route.
"At this point, I want to be clear in stressing we have not made a decision in routing," Wingfield said.
Perhaps they are just playing the people of northern Indiana to get more support. The first project is to do a $73.5 million engineering/environmental study at the end of this year (or whenever the money is awarded) then spend $147 million in 2012 for final design and build this in 2014. First service would be 2017. It will operate at a loss until at least 2020 (but likely a lot longer ... it will be operated by Amtrak). While a decent long term project, $2.8 billion for something eight years away from construction with NO local money seems like a long shot, regardless of route. They might have a chance at getting the first two projects funded (engineering through final design) and seek construction money in the next round of government funding (assuming the government doesn't go broke). But asking for $2.8 billion for something that will not turn a shovel for five years?
INDOT could be playing politics by keeping the hopes of South Bend/Elkhart people alive. The same kind of politics that puts a station at the Gary Airport (which has ZERO scheduled passenger service). Gary would like to be Chicago's third airport (instead of Peone) and even fraudulently call themselves the "Gary/Chicago International Airport" but they have trouble keeping any passenger service they attract. (How can they be international with no flights?)
The plan toutes a three mile connection to Cleveland Airport. South Bend's "Michiana Regional Airport" has several air carriers with connections to hubs around the nation and is closer to the existing route. If needed the NICTD South Shore line (or shuttles on that line) could provide the link between the new rail station and the airport. Transpo buses are also available. Eight additional round trips per day would be a good additional service.
If the line is built on the "southern" route Amtrak service is likely to follow and South Bend/Elkhart will lose it's long distance train service. While the application focuses on the long haul, Chicago to Cleveland, the viability of service from Chicago to South Bend has already been proven by the over 100 year old South Shore service (the only continuously operating interurban line surviving) and the current Amtrak routes are used by South Bend and Elkhart passengers. Plus the "northern" route would provide important Chicago to Elkhart and South Bend to Elkhart and Goshen commuter links.
Yes, the application was filed with the five year old assumption that "southern" is better. Hopefully Mr. Wingfield's comments about the routing not being decided are not just lip service.