Quote:
Originally Posted by Randomguy34
It's kinda funny that the Indiana legislature hates rail infrastructure, except for the South Shore Line since they see it as an opportunity to siphon economic development from Chicago and Illinois. NICTD could propose Chicago-Indianapolis high speed rail, pitch it as "shifting the economic center of the Midwest to Indianapolis", and the legislature would happily pay billions of dollars for it.
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The Indiana State Legislature also hates the South Shore. It is woefully behind the times in terms of rolling stock, expansion, and station infrastructure. Extending the South Shore just a few miles for the West Lake Corridor took a concerted effort for at least a decade, even when matching federal funding was available.
The city of Valparaiso has been running a dedicated bus service to the Loop next to a hoped-for expansion line to demonstrate to the state the type of demand that exists. The rail lines are there and ready to be used. There has even been transit-oriented development near the proposed train station. No matter, the state continues to prioritize expanding highways, building the largest prison in the country, or throwing money away at large corporations in hopes that they will relocate across the Illinois state line.
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