U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st, has secured $1.476 million for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU).

According to a statement released today, that earmark is part of $12 million in funding which Visclosky has secured as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Bill passed by the House and Senate.

INDU will use the funding for land acquisition.

“Everyday, our position on Lake Michigan becomes more valuable,” Visclosky said. “When we invest in the future of our lakeshore, we are investing in the future of Northwest Indiana.”

In order for INDU, created by Congress in 1966, to realize its authorized boundaries, it is still necessary to acquire additional land, around 4,300 acres of it.

“Thanks to Congressman Visclosky, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will have funding to continue acquiring critical parcels of land, especially hardship properties,” said Tom Anderson, executive director of Save the Dunes. “The purchase of these congressionally authorized lands will allow more people to enjoy the beauty of the Indiana Dunes.”

INDU runs for nearly 15 miles along the southern edge of Lake Michigan, bordered by Michigan City on the east and Gary on the west. The park contains approximately 15,000 acres, 2,182 of which are located in Indiana Dunes State Park and managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

NICTD

Visclosky also secured $4.9 million for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District to continue its investment in commuter rail throughout the region.

“Specifically, this funding will enable NICTD to continue with the designing and building of new centralized traffic control and power distribution systems,” the statement said. “These two projects will improve operational flexibility and reliability, while the signal project will have the added benefit of increasing track capacity to accommodate escalating demand. The signal project will provide full, centralized traffic control of the passenger line using state-of-the-art mircoprocessor-based systems to support the signal network.”

Other Earmarks

In addition, Visclosky obtained $817,000 for Valparaiso University to help purchase a dual-polarization detection Doppler weather radar system. “This advanced radar system will be a valuable teaching tool for the university’s Meteorology Department, and will allow the university to provide up to the minute weather information to entities in Northwest Indiana and the surrounding areas,” the statement said.

And Visclosky obtained $294,000 for sidewalks and streetscape improvements in South Haven. “This funding would be used to construct sidewalks near schools, parks, and other youth-oriented facilities in the community,” the statement said.

Visclosky wins 4 6 million for region crime fighting

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st, has secured $4.6 million for crime-fighting initiatives in Lake County.

“Northwest Indiana law-enforcement officials serve on the front lines of keeping our communities safe and secure, and it is crucial they have the necessary tools to track down criminals and bring them to justice,” Visclosky said in a statement released on Tuesday. “These funds for crime-prevention programs are investments in safer communities and an improved way of life.”

The earmarks:

•The Lake County Sheriff’s Police will receive $658,000 for data sharing software and interoperable wireless communication devices as well as for digital photography equipment and software for the Crime Lab.

•The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) serving the Hammond, Gary, East Chicago, Whiting, Highland, and Hobart police departments will receive $376,000 to purchase and install equipment in those six departments.

•The Gary Police Department will receive $451,000 to complete Phase IV of the Shot Spotter Gunfire Detection System.

•The “No Workshops, No Jumpshots” program will receive $94,000. It provides programming activities for youth between the ages of 13 and 18.

•The Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area will receive $3.022 million to reduce illegal drug-trafficking and drug-related crime in the area.

Posted 12/19/2007