Would you consider NW Indiana if transit to Chicago improved? (Skokie: 2014, leasing)

[suburban_boy]

I think that creating a NITCD line going south would attract more people to NWI. However, it would only benifit people who work in the city assuming it would only go as far as downtown.

If they build the Illiana Epressway, that would bring even more people because it will make it easier to get to the western burbs from places like Crown Point and Lowell. That would be a loooooong commute, but I've met people who drive from Kankakee to downtown everyday.

[wrcousert]

Why can't they run the L to Hammond?

[urza216]

Originally Posted by wrcousert

Why can't they run the L to Hammond?

The El doesn't even run to Hegeweich in the city limits. They'd have to extend it there before Hammond, lol.

This is like asking why the red line doesn't go down to Dolton or Harvey when it goes up to Skokie, Illinois. Well, first you're gonna have to at least extend it down to 119th street in the city. Right now it doesn't even go south of 95th street.

And the Metra Electric should go down to Kankakee. Metra service is in Kenosha, Wisconson..

[urza216]

Originally Posted by suburban_boy

I think that creating a NITCD line going south would attract more people to NWI. However, it would only benifit people who work in the city assuming it would only go as far as downtown.

If they build the Illiana Epressway, that would bring even more people because it will make it easier to get to the western burbs from places like Crown Point and Lowell. That would be a loooooong commute, but I've met people who drive from Kankakee to downtown everyday.

No. It wouldn't make a difference personally for me. Nothing against my neighboring area to the east but the lack of public transit or the lack of an "Illiana expressway" has nothing to do with why I wouldn't move there.

Maybe that damn toll on I-80 though.. And the other one on I-90 approaching the city. Of course this is the state of Illinois's doings but it's still more annoying for NW Indiana.

I've avoided the toll in between Halsted and Dixie Highway on I-80 by taking 159th instead. But wtf, 159th in the middle of Harvey has been in dead end "construction" for some time now. Now that's a hell of a place for a motorist to be like WTF, the road stopped..

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by suburban_boy

I think that creating a NITCD line going south would attract more people to NWI. However, it would only benifit people who work in the city assuming it would only go as far as downtown.

If they build the Illiana Epressway, that would bring even more people because it will make it easier to get to the western burbs from places like Crown Point and Lowell. That would be a loooooong commute, but I've met people who drive from Kankakee to downtown everyday.

If you compare the South Shore line schedule to say the Metra Electric line
during a morning rush hour between 6 and 9 am.

The SS line has fewer trains
I believe the tracks are owned by Metra or some other Rail line- if thats the case NWI will always have few train times vs. the transit that is in Illinois.

Certainly agree with the post the SS needs the extension- but will they actually get the tracks that are a vital part integrating into the city?

Logic tells me the Metra would not just toss aside their coveted spots unless their pockets were greased with $$$- why would they want to lose revenue? and have frustrated riders?

Maybe I am missing something here but that was my first thought after reading the posts.

In addition there is another line that metra has on the table running from downtown to balmoral south of crete which would serve crete,sheights,cheights, glenwood,lynwood, south holland, thornton.
So the SS is competing with Metra for track space on two different fronts with this issue.

[pvande55]

The SouthShore uses trackage rights on the Metra Electric from Kensington to Randolph Street. To add more South Shore trains capital improvements may be necessary, and the NICTD would be expected to pay for them. Lately, however, there are more job openings in Northwest Indiana for Engineering and Construction.

[reppin_the_847]

I believe that NW Indiana is going to be a critical area for engineers, builders & politicians to focus on in terms of increasing track capacity and passenger right-of-ways while getting rid of bottlenecks if high-speed rail in the Midwest is truly going to happen. NW Indiana's slated track improvements and the south side (Englewood Flyover Project) will be the key to getting those long distance trains to swiftly enter & exit the city.

Going back to the main topic at hand. I would say maybe. Cost of living is definitely lower in NW Indiana and if commute times to Chicago were cut further and I worked in the Loop, it would be tempting to consider.

Originally Posted by pvande55

The SouthShore uses trackage rights on the Metra Electric from Kensington to Randolph Street. To add more South Shore trains capital improvements may be necessary, and the NICTD would be expected to pay for them. Lately, however, there are more job openings in Northwest Indiana for Engineering and Construction.

[Broadrippleguy]

First this should be in the NWI forum. Also we do have commuter rail the South Shore line and the Chicago Skyway+busing. Another advantage we have is our gasoline prices. drop 40 cents just crossing an imagineary state line. (Geeze)

Mezzin i agree 100% however we have to fix up Gary and the northern part of Lake County first. Once Gary is ready to rebound i wouldn't be surprised if the city bounces back above the peak 172k population mark and maybe go 200k or even higher (Near the size of Fort Wayne)

[urza216]

Originally Posted by sunnyandcloudydays

In addition there is another line that metra has on the table running from downtown to balmoral south of crete which would serve crete,sheights,cheights, glenwood,lynwood, south holland, thornton.
So the SS is competing with Metra for track space on two different fronts with this issue.

Ahh. the southeast line. Sounds great. You think we might have it in ten years?

And what about extending the Metra Electric line south of University Park and all the way down to Kankakee? Northfield Mall (the Kankakee County mall) has proudly proclaimed that this is gonna happen. Near the entrance, there's a map showing where all the stops are supposed to be and everything. I've been staring at that thing for 2 years now.

I stay in Monee, by the way - University Park's neighbor to the south. (Although I'll be moving to Homewood in the near future.)

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by urza216

Ahh. the southeast line. Sounds great. You think we might have it in ten years?

And what about extending the Metra Electric south of University Park and all the way down to Kankakee? Northfield Mall (the Kankakee County mall) has proudly proclaimed that this is gonna happen near one of the entrances. I've been staring at that thing for the past two Christmas seasons.
I stay in Monee, by the way - University Park's neighbor to the south.

Yeah I know my friend - and yes it would be nice to get that project moving along.



I strongly believe the se line has a far better shot at being completed vs. the south extension of the south shore line.

I hope its not 10 years
If they ever get the Peotone airport moving along its a shoe in

Lets face the truth if the economy ever comes back we will need a third airport
but the two go hand in hand

Its not as if Will county is not growing in leaps and bounds and if a person looks 20 years down the road Will county will be the regions second most populated county
Homewood Huh - Nice place Dixie HWY-- used to work in that village
there is a really good mexican cuisine restaurant by the fire dept i like to frequent.

sorry for getting off topic

I think right now its over 650k