CESSL.org
will stay alive through the legislative session of 2009! We will
make updates as we can, so continue to spread the word and the South
Shore Line Extension will ultimately prevail! Progress will
continue in Northwest Indiana! Thank you everyone who has supported
the cause and has signed
the petition. Read CESSL's Mission Statement
below,
and stay up to date with
news and media
on the South Shore Line extension.
How can I help? Please email CESSL's homepage to your friends and
family so they will sign the petition.
The South Shore extension is still a lively topic, and we wouldn't
count it down for the count this legislative session. Read some of
this commentary on what has been happening.
South
Shore expansion hits speed bump We like to think what occurred
this past Tuesday before the Senate Tax & Fiscal Policy Committee is just a
speed bump to bringing about the South Shore Line extension.
CESSL was present for the meeting, and what occurred did not need to happen.
Gary and East Chicago did not wish to harm the South Shore Line legislation,
but they didn't necessarily help. Some of their concerns could have
been readily appeased prior to the meeting.
Senator Rogers and Mayor Clay (Gary Indiana officials) wish to ensure a spur
directly linking the existing South Shore Line to the Gary airport will be
funded. This is a good thing. The problem is, a federal study is
necessary first. The federal study ensures that the project will then
be eligible for federal dollars. As of right now, no federal study has
been completed, more or less making the airport/South Shore spur a premature
project not yet ready for any funding. Congressman Peter Visclosky has
spearheaded a recent request for a study to be done, as he too recognizes
the value of that project.
Secondly, those communities expressed doubt that the RDA will have
sufficient funds to accomplish the 4 projects laid out in it's comprehensive
plan. Leigh Morris, the head of the RDA, testified to say that based
upon the planning done and submitted for all 4 projects (the Marquette Beach
redevelopment plan, the Gary Airport initiative, a regional bus system, and
the South Shore Line extension) all 4 plans are doable and fundable via the
RDA.
You can listen or download the whole testimony from Tuesday on our website.
We have the roughly two hours of unedited audio available on our website
here
The South Shore Line
extension needs to tie into the existing South Shore Line to access
Chicago, and a consensus on the best route has been reached:
South Shore rail plan adds Hammond hub.
South Shore jobs number defended - Many people have asked for
independent studies to be performed regarding the figures surrounding the
South Shore line extension. The truth is, it was done from the
beginning.
Citizens for the
Extension of the South Shore Line (CESSL) is a grass roots organization
promoting the extension of the South Shore Line, Northwest Indiana's
commuter train system. The ultimate goal of CESSL is the extension of
the South Shore Line south to Lowell and southeast to Valparaiso, all with
more stops and more rail-cars to accommodate more riders.
The
extension of the South Shore Line bears numerous benefits, all of which will
ultimately be beneficial to the Northwest Indiana region as a whole.
Economic development, quality of life, and environmental concerns are at the
top of the list. Rising fuel costs, increased congestion on existing
thoroughfares, concerns over green house gasses, global warming and the
health concerns that accompany increased emissions all raise red flags,
signaling a need for improvement in public transportation. Finally,
and maybe more importantly, the extension of the South Shore
line will help to make Northwest Indiana a more attractive place for
families and professionals to relocate, for businesses to establish, and for
tourists to visit and enjoy.
