By PAULENE POPARAD

An era ended Friday as Dr. George Smerk stepped down as an original and continuous member of the public agency that rescued the financially struggling South Shore passenger service in 1977.

Friday, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District members honored Smerk and viewed a video outlining the $384 million invested in the South Shore in the past 30 years including NICTD’s purchase of the railroad’s assets and right-of-way in 1990.

Smerk later said the purchase, resulting from a bankrutcy filing by the previous owner, was a significant step in the railroad’s modernization. “It gave us control. I think Bill Carmichael spent eight hours signing paperwork”

Carmichael, then a Porter County Commissioner, also was an original member of the NICTD board that represents Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties. Carmichael, now a member of the Porter County Council, was retired from NICTD but currently is serving as a director again.

NICTD officials surprised Smerk with the gift of a vintage wooden ticket window once used at the Hegewisch South Shore station; an affixed plaque thanks Smerk for his lifetime of counsel and enthusiastic support for the interurban commuter service. Smerk said the ticket window, used to sell individual tickets between stations, is a keepsake because “now they run tickets off with a computer.”

After the meeting Smerk said his reaction to the gift was “utter surprise. Other people who retired from the board got a clock.” He said eventually he will donate the ticket window to the Indiana Historical Society.

Smerk is working with the Historical Society to prepare for the South Shore’s centennial in 2008 marking its first trains between South Bend and Michigan City.

Smerk taught for 40 years as a professor of transportation at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He is co-editor of the Encyclopedia of North American Railroads and is putting the finishing touches on a history of NICTD to be published by IU Press.

NICTD chairman Mark Catanzarite of St. Joseph County told Smerk and those assembled, “I find it difficult at best and unfortunate to have to say good-bye to such a valuable member of our team. George Smerk has been one of the most prolific and insightful members and contributors to this board since NICTD’s July, 1977 inception.”

Catanzarite said Smerk’s depth and knowledge are unparalleled. He credited Smerk with researching much of the supporting data which was used by the Indiana General Assembly to justify salvaging the nearly-extinct South Shore commuter line and creating NICTD in 1977.

Smerk is a governor’s appointment to NICTD, first named by Gov. Otis Bowen and by three successive governors. Gov. Mitch Daniels recently replaced Smerk with David Wickland, a Munster attorney.

Smerk is the only member of the board who has continuously served for NICTD’s entire 30 years. “Dr. Smerk’s dispatch by the appointing authority has caused a fissure which is difficult to interpret,” said Catanzarite.

Daniels also replaced former NICTD board member Paul Pobereyko with Richard Vulpitta of Hobart. In May the St. Joseph County Commission named Robert Kovach to replace Cindy Bodle, who resigned from the commission.

According to Smerk, “I see a very bright future for the South Shore.” The commuter line is extraordinarily important to Indiana, he noted, because of the payroll wages it brings here from Illinois; the leisure and sporting opportunities it provides both Indiana and Illinois riders; and the Chicago-based medical care that’s more readily accessible.

"It makes this a most attractive place to live,” said Smerk.

During his tenure NICTD built seven new passenger stations including Porter County’s Dune Park in 1986 and renovated the historic Beverly Shores station in 1997. Eighty-two passenger train cars, including 14 now on order, were purchased and the first high-level boarding platforms were built at East Chicago, Hammond and Hegewisch.

Five major pin truss bridges were replaced with modern girder structures; major improvements and expansion of the Michigan City maintenance facilities took place; a computerized traffic control center for train dispatch was put into operation as were digital station message boards, closed-circuit television monitors and a new crew quarters at Millenium Station in Chicago.

The overhead catenary and signal systems are undergoing a $95.6 million modernization made possible by the initial installation of 75 miles of fiber optic cable.

Catanzarite said when reflecting on its 30 years, NICTD needs to thank its employees and administration for making the railroad function like it does. “Riders put their faith in us allowing us to take them to work and points of interest between South Bend and Chicago.”

Posted 7/30/2007