NICTD Approves Agreement for Shorter Route to South Bend Intl. Airport
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of South Shore Line
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The South Shore Line secured a shorter route into South Bend International Airport after the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) and the airport authority finalized a agreement.
This shorter route saves passengers around 12-15 minutes who are traveling to and from Chicago on South Shore Line. It connects Northwest Indiana to Millennium Station in downtown Chicago. The realignment will lead to a reduction in travel time, eliminating curves, and reducing grade crossings. Now, the amount of available federal funding is decreasing. According to a report in Inside Indiana Business, NICTD President mike Nolan said, “There’s still money left in the current Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the current surface Transportation Act. . . We can’t wait anymore. If we’re going to fund this project, now is the time to go after those federal dollars.”
NICTD will acquire the easement on the west side through an appraisal process following approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. NICTD would also “pay the airport $25,000 a year to use some of its terminal space as a waiting room, and the airport would continue to provide parking for South Shore passengers.” The agreement goes for 50 years with options for two 25-year extensions. In the agreement, the airport authority required language about what would happen should the South Shore Line stop operations to and from the airport.
