Chesterton Tribune

 

 

NIRPC inviting public comment on West Lake extension environmental study

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The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) is holding a 30-day public-comment period and four public meetings on the proposed addition of three new transit projects to its FY 2014-17 Transportation Improvement Program.

One of those projects would be a Tier II environmental impact study on the expansion of commuter rail in Lake County, the so-called West Lake Extension. Funds requested for the study include $522,290 federal and $2,477,710 local, for a total of $3 million.

The comment period began on Wednesday and will end on Thursday, April 10.

The other two proposed project additions:

¥A three-year demonstration grant for the LaPorte County “Triangle” transit service. Funds requested include $892,370 federal and $223,093 local, for a total of $1,115,463 over three years.

¥One expansion transit vehicle for the “Triangle” service. Funds requested include $120,000 federal and $30,000 local, for a total of $150,000.

The proposed Triangle Service is a partnership among Michigan City Public Transit, LaPorte TransPorte, LaPorte County Board of Commissioners, and Purdue University North Central. Michigan City Public Transit is the lead agency. The proposed service would offer six (6) round trips daily (3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon) between the cities and the university.

The four public meetings:

¥From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at the Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road.

¥From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, at Purdue University North Central, U.S. Highway 421 in Westville, Room 144 in the Library-Student-Faculty building.

¥From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, at LaPorte City Hall, City Council Chambers, 801 Michigan.

¥From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, at the Michigan City City Hall, EOC Room (downstairs), 100 E. Michigan Blvd.

Comments may also be submitted to comments@nirpc.org, or by calling NIRPC at (219) 763-6060 ext. 160, or by mailing to NIRPC at 6100 Southport Road, Portage, IN 46368. TTY users may call Relay Indiana at 711. Additional information may be found at www.nirpc.org

Requests for information in alternate format may be directed to Mary Thorne at mthorne@nirpc.org, or by calling NIRPC (219) 763-6060, ext. 131 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting you plan to attend.

The proposed amendment will go before the NIRPC Transportation Policy Committee at 9 a.m. April 8 for their recommendation. It will be presented to the NIRPC Full Commission for adoption at their April 17 meeting.

 

Posted 3/12/2014

 
 

 

 

 

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