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Rail Corridor Preservation and Development

The Railroad Section has initiatives aimed at preserving and developing freight and passenger corridors throughout the state. This is done through financial assistance to railroads and port authorities, participation in regional planning groups and monitoring rail industry developments. A few specific examples of these efforts are listed below.

Rail Infrastructure Improvements - The Industrial Rail Service Fund is a valuable tool the Railroad Section uses to assist in track rehabilitation. Working in partnership with the Indiana Rail Transportation Group, the Rail section structured a grant program through the IRSF, which previously had only provided loans. The grant programs initial focus was on upgrading "excepted" track. Excepted track is the Federal Rail Administration's lowest classification over which a railroad is allowed to operate. Excepted track typically includes crumbling crossties, insufficient ballast and warped track. The maximum train speed on excepted track is 10 mph due to the high likelihood of potential derailments. Subsequent funding rounds have focused on bridge deck repairs and 286K capacity. Since 1999, more than 12 million has been invested in infrastructure improvements for Indiana shortline railroads.

Participation in Planning Initiatives - The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative: The Railroad Section has been a key participant in a collaborative study involving the development of high-speed passenger rail service through a nine state area (Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin). Projected benefits include job creation, community development initiatives, decreased travel time, increased accessibility, and a reduction in airport and highway congestion, as well as reduced energy usage and emissions.

High-speed Rail Corridor Designation - The Railroad Section was instrumental in securing special federal designation of three potential routes as high-speed passenger rail corridors. The corridors are the Chicago to Detroit Corridor, the Chicago to Cleveland Corridor and the Chicago-Indianapolis-Cincinnati Corridor. The significance of this designation is that special federal funds may be applied for the development of these routes. For more information see the High Speed Rail Initiative

Participation in The Transportation Corridor Planning Board - The Indiana State Legislature created the Transportation Corridor Planning Board to examine the most efficient and beneficial reuse of abandoned rail corridors. The legislation provided for four potential use strategies, 1) as future freight rail, 2) as future passenger rail, 3) as pedestrian trail, and 4) as a underground utility corridor. The Railroad Section coordinates board activities and has developed a scope of services for the completion of a Master Plan. The Master Plan, developed in 2003, provides a framework to allow the board to prioritize the future use of abandoned corridors.

Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission - The region just south of Lake Michigan and east of Chicago is considered one of the most congested areas in the state of Indiana. A multi-modal approach can determine the best transportation strategies to move people and freight through the area. For more information on transportation issues in northwest Indiana, visit the Commissions' website at http://www.nirpc.org/.