South Shore Extension Answers!

Finally, we got some answers to my many, many questions about the South Shore Expansion.

First of all, the $1B price tag for the extension is for capital costs only. The costs do not reflect inflation (i.e. it will cost more to do the extension in the future).

Secondly, the current South Shore service pays for half of its operating costs via ticket revenue. The Extension will need a source of revenue for operating expenses as well as the capital cost. No one has addressed the need for an operating subsudy.

Third, a "gateway" station in Hammond is going to cost a LOT more than one in Hegewich, which was the planned transfer station before Mayor McCheeze struck a backroom deal to bring it to Hammond.

The Hammond station could very well cost a billion dollars all by itself. It will be a detour as well, a much longer route than the Hegewich station.

Negotiations with Metra to permit more trains have not commenced, and there is no guarantee that Metra will even allow more trains on their tracks.

I also found out that Munster has been planning for the Extension for 20 years, and has 3 possible locations for a station.

With the publishing of all this information, it is clear that, once again, Visclosky has mismanaged this project. He did not get Metra on board. He did not reign in Mayor McCheeze and that insane clown in Gary, and made the region look like fools in Indy. And he did nothing to publicize the need for an operating subsidy.