The plan to extend the South Shore extension to Valparaiso and Lowell may be dead as a result of downstate opposition and demands from region players wanting a piece of the action for their cities.

Reports Patrick Guinane in the Northwest Indiana Times:

The odds weren’t great to start. Senate Tax Chairman Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, began the more than two-hour hearing by restating his opposition to the plan to divert $350 million in state sales tax money toward the $1 billion plan to extend South Shore lines to Lowell and Valparaiso.

Kenley said he hopes to “do something” with the legislation next week. But that something could mean inserting a regional tax hike, which Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, said would sound the death knell for the funding bill.

“We’re at a point where I believe we need to take action now,” Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, told Kenley and the rest of the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee. “My fear is that (the South Shore extension) will never be built.”

Later testimony abetted that fear. Gary Mayor Rudy Clay and Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, continued to press for a $130 million rail link to Gary/Chicago International Airport. The plea for that costly add-on led to testy exchanges with Sen. Frank Mrvan, a Hammond Democrat who serves on the tax panel.

East Chicago lobbyist John Aguilera joined Clay in expressing concern the massive rail expansion would sap funding for other projects overseen by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. East Chicago wants the RDA to help bankroll the city’s $270 million shoreline redevelopment plan.

Technorati Tags: South Shore Line

The key to getting Gary, Indiana on board with the South Shore line expansion to Lowell and Valparaiso is simple — run a spur line connection to the Gary – Chicago Airport — reports John Byrne in the Post-Tribune.

Simple enough, congressman. Show Gary the spur, and Gary will show you the money.

Technorati Tags: Earline Rogers, Gary Chicago Airport, Gary Indiana, Rudy Clay, South Shore Line, transportation

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