West Lake Corridor
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The West Lake Corridor Commuter Rail Project adds an approximate 8-mile southern branch extension of the South Shore Line to provide direct commuter rail service to the high-growth areas of central and southern Lake County, Indiana. The Project extends south from Hammond, Indiana, to Dyer Indiana. The Project purpose is to increase transportation options for central and southern Lake County residents traveling to downtown Chicago and surrounding areas as well as to South Bend International Airport. The Project will further reduce travel time and costs, and promote economic development opportunities in Lake County.
The South Shore Line decided to name its new extension the Monon Corridor in honor of the Monon Railroad, which historically operated on the rail corridor between Hammond and Dyer. The Monon Railroad carried passengers and freight on this right-of-way from 1884 until 1971, when it was merged into the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N). The L&N and its successor CSX continued service on this corridor until 1989 when service ended and the line was sold to a group consisting of the City of Hammond, the Town of Munster and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD). This group had a future vision to use this right-of-way to build a new, electrified railroad line that would connect with NICTD's South Shore Line near the Illinois State Line, building new stations and preserving the recreational trail beside it. That vision led to the reality of our new Monon Corridor.
The FTA’s process for Capital Investment Grant Projects is a structured process with phases:
Project Development: The FTA approved NICTD’s request to enter into the Project Development process in 2016. The Project Development process included an environmental review that included completing environmental studies, developing and reviewing alternatives, and identifying a locally preferred alternative. The locally preferred alternative was documented in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which was made available for public review and comment in December 2016.
After reviewing public comments and identifying measures to mitigation impacts, the FTA issued a combined Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision in March 2018.
NICTD submitted Readiness Technical Plans and requested approval from the FTA to enter into the Engineering phase on September 4, 2018, and was subsequently approved to advance into that phase in October 2019, upon the completion of the Project Development phase.
Engineering and Construction: Project design was completed with enough detail to allow the FTA to evaluate, rate, and approve the designs. The FTA approved the Project as designed and provided a favorable ratings decision in March 2019. NICTD subsequently requested a Full Funding Grant Agreement, which was signed in October 2020. Construction began after the Full Funding Grant Agreement was signed. The FTA will continues to provide oversight throughout the construction process. Revenue operations are anticipated to begin in 2026.
Revenue operations are anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2026.
Current estimates for the Project are approximately $852 million, excluding financing costs. Capital costs will be updated as the design progresses through design and engineering.
The Project has received a Medium-High Rating by the FTA and received a funding recommendation for this Project in Fiscal Year 2020.
FTA’s New Starts program is providing approximately 37.5 percent of the Project’s capital cost. The non-New Starts costs will be covered by a combination of funding sources, including funding from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA), the State of Indiana, and local communities.
Visit the FTA’s New Starts program and process to learn more.
As a recipient of federal funding (e.g., federal fuel tax funds), the West Lake Corridor Project must comply with several federal laws and regulations before it can be implemented, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities which receive federal financial assistance. NICTD is required to have an FTA-approved Title VI Program in place to receive federal funding. Capital funds to NICTD to provide a West Lake extension of commuter rail service require that NICTD provide service equitably along the corridor to “ensure that the level and quality of public transportation service is provided in a nondiscriminatory manner” (FTA Circular 4702.1B).
The federal environmental review process for the West Lake Corridor Project was completed in March 2018 in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as provisions of US DOT’s Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). NICTD prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Project, with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as the Federal Lead Agency and NICTD as the Local Project Sponsor responsible for implementing the Project.
The purpose of the environmental review process was to promote informed decision-making by considering the potential environmental and social impacts of the Project. The FTA and NICTD engaged regulatory agencies with a defined interest in the Project and the public who could potentially be affected by the Project. The environmental review process was structured to encourage participation between government officials, agencies, private businesses, and citizens.
The DEIS was prepared for the Project, with the FTA as the Federal Lead Agency and NICTD as the Local Project Sponsor responsible for implementing the Project. The DEIS was completed in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the US Department of Transportation’s (US DOT) Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act).
The DEIS process involved a detailed analysis of the Project, including potential design options, ridership, costs, social and environmental resources, and other considerations. The analyses provided for more informed decisions about Project elements such as the transit mode, route alignment, station locations, and other infrastructure improvements. The DEIS was available for review from December 16, 2016 through February 3, 2017 by the public and agencies. The FTA issued a FEIS/ROD and Section 4(f) Evaluation in March 2018.
The FEIS/ROD can be reviewed on the Resources page. A list of public libraries that have copies of the FEIS/ROD can be found on the Resources page as well.
Visit the Real Estate page for more information on Acquisitions and Relocations.
Property values are affected by many factors including a variety of market conditions. Research has shown that major transit investments such as commuter rail generally yield positive effects on property values. There is potential for an increase in property values in the areas surrounding proposed commuter rail stations, as commuter rail access can increase the convenience and desirability of nearby residential, commercial, and office properties. Commuter rail transit can also contribute to existing market forces that can increase the potential for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) or redevelopment. Development and redevelopment are managed by the local jurisdictions in the Project Area and are driven predominantly by regional and local economic conditions and land uses as defined in locally adopted comprehensive plans and zoning laws. Transit projects, including commuter rail lines, can advance the timing and increase the intensity of development, especially in areas near proposed stations, as allowed by local comprehensive plans. The direct impacts of a rail project on property values are difficult to assess conclusively because there are so many other factors that also affect property values. Continuing population growth and a strengthening of the local economy within the Project Area would also contribute to redevelopment and increased property values.
Studies on transit investments and property values include:
Public meetings and hearings were conducted for the Project to provide the opportunity to comment on the Project. Two rounds of public and agency review were conducted during the DEIS phase in fall 2014 and fall 2015 and a final round of hearings were held in January 2017. Visit the Resources page to review past meeting materials. Other individual stakeholder meetings and other meetings were also convened during the course of the study.
NICTD relies heavily on email and the Project website to communicate with those who have shown interest in the Project. The best way to stay informed about upcoming public meetings and Project updates is to provide us your email address using the comment form or signing up for construction notifications at: https://www.nictdwestlake.com/construction/.
Up-to-date information will be posted on this website and Facebook page.
The new Monon corridor includes four stations:
Station locations are shown on the Maps page.
A Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) Yard that includes an Employee Administration – Light Maintenance (EALM) building was constructed just south of the Hammond Gateway Station. The yard site is sized to ultimately accommodate a future Maintenance Shop Facility and Car Wash Building. Traction power substations powering the overhead catenary system are located at the MSF Yard, South Hammond Station, and the Munster/Dyer Main Street Station.
In compliance with ADA standards, there is access for people with disabilities at all stations and platforms. For example, station designs include ADA parking and a public address system with both speakers and signs to convey information to people with disabilities in compliance with ADA requirements. All platforms are accessible by ADA-compliant ramps and include tactile warning strips at their edges. All platforms are ADA-compliant for boarding and exiting the train. Pedestrian tunnels will also be designed to be compliant and will provide safe, accessible crossing of the tracks. New crosswalk ramps and grades for new sidewalks comply with ADA regulations including pushbuttons and pedestrian signal heads.
Electric powered trains using overhead wires will be used for service, the same as is used on the South Shore Line.
The new track and bridges for the Monon Corridor were designed exclusively for passenger rail service.
Each station includes a parking lot and a pick-up/drop-off area. NICTD will work with the host community to determine how parking operations will be handled for each station. It is possible the operation and maintenance will be the responsibility of the host community. Under this scenario, it is possible that a parking fee would be assessed.
NICTD designed stations to be as bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly as possible and is working with local communities to include them in the development of compatible infrastructure for accessing the stations. Installation of bicycle lanes on adjoining streets would be outside the Project’s scope, and it would be in the jurisdiction of the local communities to add bicycle lanes near the stations.
Each station includes station platforms, parking facilities, benches, trash receptacles, bicycle racks, and other site furnishings. Shelter buildings are located at Munster/Dyer Main Street and Hammond Gateway Stations only.
Yes, bikes will be permitted on the trains.
NICTD is preparing a financial plan to evaluate different funding strategies and determine West Lake’s zoned fare structure.
The train schedule for the new Monon Corridor service has not been finalized but will be released soon.
For detailed responses to questions regarding environmental effects, visit Appendix H of the FEIS.
There will be emergency vehicle access only via Seminary Drive and Margo Lane. The entrances to the parking lot via these two roadways will be barricaded and locked by the municipalities and NICTD Transit Police. Passengers will not be able to access the parking lot from the Meadows of Dyer or West Lake subdivisions and passengers will not be allowed to park in the neighborhoods to walk to the station. This will be enforced by the municipal police and NICTD Transit Police departments.
The city of Hammond and town of Munster jointly applied for a Quiet Zone with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which is currently under their review. NICTD anticipates that the Quiet Zone will be approved by the FRA in December 2026, in advance of Revenue Service.
"Talent retention and attraction are critically important to the growth of the Northwest Indiana economy. Now is the time for us to start expanding access to amenities that commuter rail offers."
Heather Ennis
President/CEO, Northwest Indiana Forum
