Nearly $180 million is headed to Indiana from the federal government for transportation projects in the works throughout the state.

The latest round of funding is for two projects: double tracking the South Shore Line in northern Indiana and the Purple Line bus route in Indianapolis.

$77.5 million of that money will be going towards the Purple Line. IndyGo and the city of Indianapolis have been working over the last few year to install a rapid transit bus system in the Capitol City. The Red Line is already completed extending from the northern part of the city to the southern part and has been in service since the beginning of the year.

IndyGo said the Purple Line project will replace and improve the existing Route 39 local service which would connect downtown Indy to the city of Lawrence on the east side.

The other $100 million will be given to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District to be used to had a second line of railroad to run parallel with the existing railroad along the South Shore line which connects Michigan City and Gary to Chicago.

The project will also make improvements at five stations, expand parking lots, add nine new platforms, and make it so the South Shore line no longer runs at street level going through Michigan City.

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