Infrastructure News Summary
For November 13, 2007

TRANSPORTATION WILL BE FOCUS OF CHAMBER EVENT
Elkhart Truth
11-13-07

Elkhart - Getting raw materials, components and finished products from one place to another will be the topic of discussion at a special reception by the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce. The Transportation Reception will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Matterhorn Conference Center, 2041 Cassopolis St. Tim Feemster, senior vice president and director of global logistics for Grubb & Ellis, will be the keynote speaker. The Michiana region has access to a variety of transportation systems including highway, rail and nearby harbors. As the transportation needs of the area change, economic development also will be impacted. The event is open only to Chamber members and invited guests. Registration is $15. Call the chamber at 293-1531 for more information.
http://www.etruth.com/Know/Business/Story.aspx?ID=429087

VISCLOSKY MAKES ANOTHER SOUTH SHORE PITCH
NWI Times
Patrick Guinane
11-13-07

Indianapolis - U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, preached South Shore expansion to the choir this morning, receiving a friendly welcome from a state legislative panel that is studying mass transit issues. The reception was much chillier two months ago, when the congressman spoke to a group of legislative fiscal leaders. The $1 billion plan to expand commuter rail service to Lowell and Valparaiso needs $350 million in support from Lake and Porter counties. That mean state lawmakers must sign onto a $30 million annual tax hike at time when the public is clamoring for tax relief. The Legislature's Joint Study Committee on Mass Transit and Transportation Alternatives also heard from state Transportation Commissioner Karl Browning, who argued against the state taking a bigger role in public transportation planning. The committee, which is wrapping up three months of testimony, plans to urge INDOT to "provide stronger leadership" in the coordination of mass transit. http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/11/13/updates/breaking_news/doc4739e13b049e1874214204.txt

INDOT AWARDS CROWN POINT, S'VILLE $1.5 MIL FOR TRAIL PROJECTS
NWI Times
11-13-07

Crown Point and Schererville received a combined $1.5 million from INDOT for multi-use trails, the state agency announced early Tuesday. Schererville received $1 million for the construction of 2.3 miles of the Pennsy Northwest Trail from Schererville Town Hall south to Rohrman Park. The project also includes signage, landscaping, a gateway shelter and parking. Crown Point received $524,000 for the construction of 1.65 miles of the Penn-Erie Greenway multi-use trail from 93rd Avenue south to Summit Street. The project also includes parking lots, bridges, tunnels, restrooms and signage. The funds come as part of more than $20 million awarded state-wide in Transportation Enhancement funds intended for multi-use trails, streetscape improvements and historic bridge rehabilitations. Tuesday's announcement marks the first time the funding for multi-use trails increased from $10 million to $15 million as part of Gov. Mitch Daniels' Hoosiers on the Move trails initiative, which aims to have a trail within 15 minutes of every resident of the state. http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/11/13/updates/breaking_news/doc4739b8200795f482439726.txt

MUNSTER BUYING PROPERTIES FOR 45TH ALIGNMENT
NWI Times
Andrea Holecek
11-13-07

Redevelopment Commission has sold $8.13 million in taxing district bonds to purchase five properties on the west side of Calumet Avenue between the Pepsi bottling plant and the Canadian National railroad tracks. The properties' access would be cut off by the proposed realignment of 45th Avenue at Calumet, which is several years away, said Munster Town Manager Tom DeGiulio. The federal grants being sought for the alignment don't include funds for land acquisition, he said. The project has made it difficult for the affected buildings' owners to rent them or give their current tenants long-term leases, DeGiulio said. The town's action will allow those operating in the businesses involved, including the Hostess/Wonder Bread outlet, to stay in place until the project to align 45th Avenue begins, he said. http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/11/13/news/top_news/docee39917ce523ba43862573920005179a.txt

VALPO WRITING POLICY TO LIMIT PRIVATE ROADS
NWI Times
Phil Wieland
11-13-07

Valparaiso - Private roads have been a frequent topic of discussion and source of problems for the city for many years, so a policy is being developed to virtually eliminate them in the future. "We've never addressed them with a defined policy or procedure," city Engineering Director David Pilz said. "We do it on a case-by-case basis, and it can depend on which way the wind blows. We've got a couple of developments pending, and we thought it would be a good time to develop a policy so that we would be more consistent." The draft of the policy was presented to the city's Board of Public Works and Safety last week and could be up for approval at the board's next meeting. http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/11/13/news/porter_county/doc1ce6b6eb892046f386257392000efb2c.txt

PLANNING GURU TO TALK INTERMODAL
NWI Times
Keith Benman
11-13-07

One of the nation's leading experts on regionalism will discuss how Northwest Indiana can renew its economy by effectively tapping into global transportation networks. Michael Gallis, of Gallis & Associates, is being brought to town by the Northwest Indiana Forum, just months before developers are expected to come forward with plans for an intermodal rail yard south of the city of LaPorte. He will speak at 6 p.m., Dec. 6, at the Michigan City High School Auditorium. The event is open to the public but registration is required. http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/11/13/business/business/doc24a5035ae1a7eec8862573910076cc91.txt

CEDAR LAKE SHOULD RETHINK OPPOSITION TO RAIL EXTENSION
NWI Times
11-13-07

Editorial. "The extension of commuter rail service to Lowell and Valparaiso holds great promise for Northwest Indiana. This is especially true for communities like Cedar Lake, whose residents would gain rapid access to Chicago. What was the Cedar Lake Town Council thinking by not embracing this proposal last week? What community could benefit more? … Yes, the expansion comes with a cost. Northwest Indiana would have to come up with an estimated $350 million to pay for it. But the potential return on that investment is so large that it's hard to imagine Cedar Lake not endorsing the proposal. The Town Council should rethink its decision. Think of what's good for the region and what's good for the town. The answer is extending the commuter rail service." http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/11/13/opinion/times_editorials/docd05cf7a5c95516468625739200015685.txt