NORTHWEST INDIANA TRANSPORTATION STUDY COMMISSION

The Northwest Indiana Transportation Study Commission shall do the following:
    1. Evaluate existing studies that address the needs and viability of high speed rail service in and through the state, including the:
        A. Midwest High Speed Rail Initiative Study;
        B. Federal Railroad Administration High Speed Rail Study; and
        C. The Indiana Passenger Rail Study;
    2. Review other high speed rail issues identified by the commission as requiring study;
    3. Monitor the development of commuter transportation and rail service in the Westlake County-Chicago Lowell-Chicago and Valparaiso-Chicago corridors;
    4. Study all aspects of regional mass transportation and road and highway needs in Lake County, Porter County, LaPorte County, St. Joseph County, and Elkhart County; and
    5. Study other topics as assigned by the legislative council.

In addition the Legislative Council assigned the following topics to the Commission for study in 2001:

    A.    Evaluation of air transportation issues and identification of funding sources      available to the Gary/Chicago airport (HR 61)

    B.    Indiana toll road issues (SR 19)