CROWN POINT — The first phase of the long-discussed West Lake Corridor rail expansion project took a significant step forward at today’s meeting of the Board of Directors of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. The Board committed $8 million a year in RDA funds to match local funds generated for construction of the line.

The West Lake Corridor is forecast to carry approximately 5,600 riders when operational. This represents a 40 percent increase in ridership over the commuters currently taking the South Shore train into Chicago. The annual commuter income generated by the West Lake Corridor is $147.3 million, a 62 percent increase over the $237.5 million that the South Shore line commuters now bring back to Northwest Indiana.

Under the current proposed timetable, if funding can be secured, design and engineering work would begin in 2018 and actual construction would start in 2020. Trains would be running on the West Lake Corridor in 2022.