From the Northwest Indiana Times:
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky believes the new Lake County local income tax could finally be the fuel needed to expand the South Shore commuter service.
The congressman has recently been meeting with regional leaders to get support for the West Lake Corridor, eight miles of track between Hammond to Dyer estimated to cost more than $464 million to build, and another $9.6 million annually to operate enough trains expected to carry 4,510 passengers a week into Chicago.
Visclosky recently told The Times that, in spite of partisan backbiting that threatens another federal government shutdown next year, he is confident Washington will make $11 billion available annually for public transportation money -- and Northwest Indiana must grab its share.
The federal government can cover some, but not all, those expenses.
"On trains and buses, if you don't have a non-federal match, you are getting nothing. The county is going to have to be a participant," Visclosky said.
And if the county antes up a share of South Shore money, others could follow, he said.
"I'm very hopeful it will become irresistible for the state to say the county exercised the tax, the county has made a commitment. And at that point, the RDA (Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority) also can come up with a very detailed financial plan," Visclosky said.
It remains to be seen whether county officials are all aboard. They resisted an earlier legislative proposal to have $24 million a year in local Lake County income tax earmarked permanently to the RDA for South Shore use.
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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/push-to-expand-south-shore-continues/article_0e8b4870-0063-5d17-8814-4128f00a52a2.html
