TransportationFriday, November 6
South Shore Line's South Bend airport station plan stalls after a federal grant denial
The Daily South Bend team
If you've been hoping for a faster train to Chicago, the plan just hit a snag. The Federal Railroad Administration didn't select the South Bend realignment in its latest round of grant awards, announced last Friday.
The roughly $112 million plan would move the station to the opposite side of South Bend International Airport. Regional partners pledged about $56 million in matching funds, and those commitments are expected to stay in place.
$112 millionapproximate cost of the proposed station relocation
Partners have pledged about $56 million in matching funds.
Source: InkFreeNews.com
“It's not wasted. This might be a building block to another opportunity.”
- Next step: review how the application was scored
- Options: pursue another funding opportunity or reapply next cycle
- Also considered: buying construction materials early
- Airport operations and the existing station: unchanged
The plan would move the station and cut the Chicago trip by about 30 minutes
| What changes | Under the plan |
|---|---|
| Station | Opposite side of the airport |
| Road-rail crossings | Numerous crossings eliminated |
| Trip to Chicago | About 90 minutes |
Source: InkFreeNews.com
Sources: WVPE, InkFreeNews.com