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{{Short description|Future commuter rail line in Indiana, USA}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox rail line
|name = West Lake Corridor
|logo = West Lake Corridor logo.png
|logo_width = 200px
|image =
|image_width =
|caption =
|type = [[Commuter rail]]
|system = [[South Shore Line]]
|status = Under construction
|locale = [[Lake County, Indiana|Lake County]], [[Indiana]], [[United States]]
|start = [[Hammond Gateway Station]]
|end = {{stn|Munster/Dyer Main Street}}
|stations =
|routes =
|daily_ridership =
|planopen = February 2025<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mills |first1=Wes |title=Ceremony to Break Ground on West Lake Corridor Project |url=https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/story/42825455/ceremony-to-break-ground-on-west-lake-corridor-project |access-date=1 November 2020 |agency=Inside Indiana Business |publisher=Grow INdiana Media Ventures |date=27 October 2020}}</ref>
|close =
|owner =
|operator = [[NICTD]]
|character =
|stock = [[Nippon Sharyo]] NICTD EMUs
|linelength = {{convert|9|mi|km|abbr=on}}
|tracklength =
|tracks = 1 + [[passing siding]]s
|gauge = {{track gauge|ussg}}
|minradius =
|electrification = [[Overhead line|Overhead catenary]], 1500 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct current|DC]]
|speed =
|elevation =
|map = {{West Lake Corridor|inline=y}}
|map_state = collapsed
}}

The '''West Lake Corridor''' is an under-construction commuter rail line in [[Lake County, Indiana|Lake County]], [[Indiana]]. New [[South Shore Line]] services will connect [[Chicago, Illinois]] and the cities of [[Hammond, IN|Hammond]] and [[Munster, IN|Munster]] in [[Indiana]].

==History==
===New Start Studies===
In mid-2000s, the population and commercial growth in [[Lake County, Indiana|Lake]] and [[Porter County, Indiana|Porter]] counties in [[Northwest Indiana]] was outstripping projections.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/06/23/news/top_news/e22ffeaf730c9cdb86257195007bd136.txt|title=Study: South Shore extension would add jobs, income|last=Benman|first=Keith|date=June 23, 2006|work=nwi.com|access-date=July 16, 2017|language=en}}</ref> The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District determined that if the growth continued, it would be necessary to add another branch to the South Shore Line commuter rail.<ref name=":1" /> In 2006, planning proceeded for an extension to [[Valparaiso, Indiana]], but the project was deemed unqualified for federal funding,{{Failed verification|date=July 2017}} and the [[NICTD]] was unable to confidently attain [[trackage rights]] on the [[Canadian National Railway]] line to Valparaiso.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wjobcalpress.com/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2006-09-10&-token.story=148557.112113&-token.subpub=|website=WJOB (Calumet)/AP|title=Archived copy|access-date=September 11, 2006|archive-date=July 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726161157/http://www.wjobcalpress.com/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2006-09-10&-token.story=148557.112113&-token.subpub=|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2008 a new study indicated that the Valparaiso to Munster branch would not generate sufficient ridership and was dropped from the plan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nwi.com/articles/2008/12/17/news/lake_county/doca4777716cabe84e286257522000eabe5.txt|title=Study: Valpo-to-Munster SS line would add few riders|last=Benman|first=Keith|date=December 17, 2008|work=nwi.com|access-date=July 16, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

In 2017, the NICTD began demolition of houses between Hanover and Brunswick streets to begin building [[Hammond Gateway Station|a new station]], where trains would interchange with the main line.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gonzalez|first1=Michael|title=Train plans unsettle Hammond neighborhood|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-hammond-west-footprint-st-0103-20161230-story.html|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref>

===Capital Investment Grant Program===
In March 2019, the [[Federal Transit Administration]] (FTA) gave the project a favorable rating meaning the project could qualify for funding from the Capital Investment Grant Program. NICTD anticipated to be awarded funding the following spring with construction beginning later in the year.<ref name="ratingmediumhigh">{{cite news|url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/FTA-gives-favorable-rating-to-proposed-NICTD-commuter-rail-extension--57196|title=FTA gives favorable rating to proposed NICTD commuter-rail extension|publisher=Progressive Railroading|date=March 26, 2019|access-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref> That October, the FTA approved the project moving it into its engineering phase.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/fta-gives-south-shore-line-expansion-thumbs|title=FTA Gives South Shore Line Expansion A Thumbs Up|last=Keiper|first=Jennifer|publisher=WBBM-AM|date=October 8, 2019|access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref>

===Construction===
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 28, 2020, which included the signing of a full funding grant between the FTA and NICTD.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/story/42831036/work-to-begin-on-west-lake-corridor-project?fbclid=IwAR1S1pGDEXdt5vKrFhWuCTW9lcplQbZJ7YWoDOJjonRb-QH1eMeMsfhjF-M|title=Work to Begin on West Lake Corridor Project|date=October 28, 2020|access-date=November 1, 2020|work=Inside INdiana Business With Gerry Dick|last=Brown|first=Alex}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Steele |first1=Andrew |title=WATCH NOW: 8-mile rail line from Hammond to Dyer is on way |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/watch-now-8-mile-rail-line-from-hammond-to-dyer-is-on-way/article_86a26f2b-e275-50ff-a5f9-4505412a62c0.html |website=nwitimes.com |publisher=The Times of Northwest Indiana |access-date=12 November 2020 |language=en |date=28 October 2020}}</ref>

==Alignment==
[[File:Monon Trail across Little Calumet River.jpg|thumb|The line will parallel the northeastern segment of the [[Monon Trail]], seen here crossing the [[Little Calumet River]]. ]]
Traveling southbound, the new branch leaves the existing main line immediately before the current [[Hammond station (South Shore Line)|Hammond station]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nictdwestlake.com/faqs/|title=Frequently Asked Questions|date=2017|website=West Lake Corridor|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> From Hammond south, the line follows the route of [[Monon Trail]] until it reaches Maynard Junction. The Monon Trail will be retained, but follow a new alignment.<ref name=":0" /> At Maynard Junction, the Corridor will have a [[Overpass|flyover]] over the [[EJ&E]]/[[CSX Transportation|CSX]] tracks, and then will follow new tracks built immediately west of the CSX [[Right-of-way (transportation)|right-of-way]].

Due to financial constraints, the initial segment will not extend to [[St. John, Indiana|St. John]] or [[Lowell, Indiana|Lowell]], but provisions will be made for future extension.<ref>{{Cite report|url=http://www.nictdwestlake.com/assets/documents/DEIS_Alternatives.pdf|title=West Lake Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Chapter 2: Alternatives Considered)|last1=Simón|first1=Marisol R.|last2=Noland|first2=Michael|date=2 December 2016|publisher=NICTD|page=5|quote=The alignments by alternative were evaluated from cost, feasibility, and freight railroad acceptability perspectives. The analysis concluded that the alignment between Dyer and St. John should be dropped from further consideration primarily because the estimated capital cost would have exceeded the funding that has been identified for the project. It was understood that an extension to St. John or Lowell could be considered in the future.|last3=Federal Transit Administration|last4=USDoT|last5=US Army Corps of Engineers|access-date=16 July 2017|author-link3=Federal Transit Administration|author-link4=United States Department of Transportation|author-link5=United States Army Corps of Engineers}}</ref>

NICTD is not constructing a station serving Hammond's downtown area. However, as part of its plans to revitalize its downtown, the city of Hammond plans to itself construct a downtown station at Russel Street along a section of elevated track. While preparatory work is to be done coinciding with the construction of the West Lake Corridor, full construction on the station is not planned to begin until 2025, making the station an [[infill station]] to be built after the initial opening of the West Lake Corridor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steele |first1=Andrew |title=Decades of hopes and plans culminate with start of South Shore projects |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/decades-of-hopes-and-plans-culminate-with-start-of-south-shore-projects/article_567d6e69-f30e-57f3-a4d5-a4aa4929cded.html |website=nwitimes.com |publisher=The Times (Munster, Indiana) |access-date=25 May 2022 |language=en |date=March 13, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Zorn |first1=Tom |title=Municipalities get on board plans to grow housing, commercial developments as South Shore projects start |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-south-shore-develop-st-0327-20220325-gkhy5twh45bybacjkqidrgng7y-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=25 May 2022 |date=March 25, 2022}}</ref>

===Planned stations===
* {{stn| Hammond Gateway}}
* {{Stn|Downtown Hammond}} (later infill station)
* {{Stn|South Hammond}}
* {{stn|Munster Ridge Road}}
* {{stn|Munster/Dyer Main Street}}

== Service patterns ==
The new line will directly serve [[Millennium Station]] at peak hours with [[Shuttle train|shuttle]] service between Munster/Dyer and Hammond Gateway for connections to main line services at other times.<ref name=":2">{{Cite report|url=http://www.nictdwestlake.com/assets/documents/DEIS_Alternatives.pdf|title=West Lake Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Chapter 2: Alternatives Considered)|last1=Simón|first1=Marisol R.|last2=Noland|first2=Michael|date=2 December 2016|publisher=NICTD|last3=Federal Transit Administration|last4=USDoT|last5=US Army Corps of Engineers|access-date=16 July 2017|author-link3=Federal Transit Administration|author-link4=United States Department of Transportation|author-link5=United States Army Corps of Engineers}}</ref><ref name="2020FEIS">{{cite web |title=Chapter 2 Alternatives Considered |url=http://www.nictdwestlake.com/assets/documents/FEIS_Chapter2.pdf |publisher=NICTD |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Monon Railroad]]
* [[Monon Trail]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.nictdwestlake.com/ West Lake Corridor]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141013222856/http://www.nictdwestlake.com/pdf/regional-map.pdf West Lake Corridor Project Map]

{{South Shore Line navbox}}
{{Metra|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:South Shore Line| ]]
[[Category:Transportation in Chicago]]
[[Category:Transportation in Indiana]]
[[Category:Proposed railway lines in Illinois]]
[[Category:Electric railways in Illinois]]
[[Category:Electric railways in Indiana]]
[[Category:2025 in rail transport]]
[[Category:Railway lines under construction]]

West Lake Corridor - Revision history

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