IndianaLocalNews

President Trump’s proposed budget cuts threaten South Shore Line projects

PORTAGE, Ind. (AP) — Two train projects in northwest Indiana could lose significant federal funding under President Donald Trump‘s proposed budget.

The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports the budget issued by Trump’s administration Thursday calls for substantial cuts in federal spending, including to the Department of Transportation. The cuts would eliminate the program that would provide funds for the South Shore Line‘s West Lake Corridor and Double Track NWI projects.

The proposal limits funding in the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant program to projects that already have full funding grant agreements. Neither of the projects in northwest Indiana has reached that level.

Recent cost estimates show the West Lake project would require more than $300 million in federal funds and the Double Track project would require about $145 million.

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3 comments

Trump doing what should be comon sense March 17, 2017 at 1:24 pm

Anyone ever look at the South Shore when it goes by? 25% full if that. Why is the Federal Gov. involved in the first place? Why does anyone want to expand it in the second place? No need for this. That is why it was going to be funded with Federal money (our tax dollars). No private company would even consider this type of expansion for a product not being used. South Shore is not municipal transportation. It is privately owned. How do I get Federal money to play with for my business. I want to add some useless stuff at tax payer expense…

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Hey, we're in dept here! March 17, 2017 at 2:04 pm

How about this…if the business is not profitable enough to pay it’s own way that they don’t expect everyone else to pay for it? If it’s a local priority and you can’t raise the money for it why should every one else be expected to pony up for your shiny new toy?

There’s a reason we don’t have high speed rail, it’s not profitable. The first train to run at over 100mph average on it’s route did so over 100years ago and was a steam engine. Maintaining those tracks for speed is very expensive though and the ridership at rates to sustain it is not there.

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Hey, we're in dept here! March 17, 2017 at 2:04 pm

Debt, dept….whatever…

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