西北印第安纳州最大的公共交通努力之一正在进行中，这是10月29日的开创性仪式，该仪式为近55.5亿美元的西湖走廊通勤铁路项目提供了开创性的仪式。

Led by the joint venture of F.H. Paschen and Ragnar Benson Construction, the design-build project will provide an eight-mile dedicated southern branch extension of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District’s Chicago-South Bend South Shore Line to serve fast-growing communities in the state’s northwest region. Four new stations and a combined maintenance/storage facility will also be constructed.

通过链接到南岸线，西湖走廊上的火车最终将与芝加哥市中心的千禧车站的Metra Electric District Line连接，总距离约为30英里。

The Paschen/Ragnar Benson team was selected for the project last year with an initial bid of $664.2 million, an amount that was reduced in the ensuing months with no significant changes to project scope, according to NICTD. Plans call for the West Lake line to begin revenue operation in early 2025.

联邦新开始赠款的资金约占该项目的38％，总估计成本为9.45亿美元。其余的将由印第安纳州，西北印第安纳州地区发展局和走廊服务的社区覆盖。

NICTD is also pursuing New Starts funding for a separate $491-million modernization of the South Shore Line between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. Currently in the design phase, the project would include nearly 17 miles of track to improve train speed and reliability, as well as four new bridges, new platforms at eight stations and closure of 21 at-grade rail crossings in Michigan City.

NICTD希望明年年初寻求该项目的竞标，并在获得联邦赠款后立即开始建设。