Northwest Indiana now has a plan to improve how residents get around the Region over the next few years.
The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission released its list of transportation and transit projects, which are expected to begin between 2022 and 2026 as part of the bi-annual federal Transportation Improvement Program.
NIRPC bi-annual report outlines state and federally funded transportation and transit programs and projects in Northwest Indiana. The Transportation Improvement Program for 2022 through 2026 allocates nearly $23 million for highway infrastructure, trails, sidewalks, and air quality education, for Lake, Porter and La Porte counties. NIRPC also approved more than $33 million for transit assistance and new equipment, including buses, in Lake, Porter and La Porte counties.
NIRPC said the transportation improvement programs raises the quality of life in Northwest Indiana communities through infrastructure projects, improved air quality, roadway safety, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, congestion management, transit operating assistance, as well as municipality- and county-led improvements on our streets and roads.
Construction on these projects is expected to begin between 2023 and 2026.
Projects awarded state and federal transportation funds in the 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program include:
- Hammond – Marquette Greenway Multi-Use Path from Kennedy to Cline Avenue; construction in 2025; total cost $2,470,000
- Hammond/East Chicago/INDOT – Marquette Greenway Trail over Kennedy Avenue; construction in 2025; total cost $900,400
- Valparaiso – Multi-Use trail connecting Transit Center to downtown; construction in 2024; total cost $2,245,500
- NIRPC – Air Quality Education in 2025 and 2026; total cost $945,000
- Cedar Lake – sidewalks along Lakeshore Drive and Morse Street; construction in 2025; total cost $2,327,000
- NIRPC – Road Safety Audits for member communities; annually $77,500
- Schererville – Kennedy Avenue Phase 3 Oak to Main Street; construction in 2025; total cost $7,761,000
- Lake Station – Central Avenue, complete streets, traffic calming; construction in 2026; total cost $1,519,000
- Valparaiso – Lincolnway and Campbell roundabout; construction in 2025; total cost $4,695,000
- Chesterton et al. – Signal preemption for emergency vehicles (various locations throughout seven municipalities); construction in 2025; total cost $1,947,000
- East Chicago – Michigan Avenue pavement rehabilitation; construction in 2026; total cost $4,490,000
- Gary – 15th Avenue from Martin Luther King Drive to I-65; road reconstruction; construction in 2024; total cost $3,300,000
- Griffith – Broad Street & Avenue H Roundabout; construction in 2026; total cost $2,000,000
- Hammond – Summer Street roadway reconstruction; construction in 2023; total cost $10,101,000
- Lake County – bridge replacement, Colorado Street over Deep River; construction in 2026; total cost $1,441,500
- Merrillville – Mississippi Street and 79th Avenue roundabout; construction in 2026; total cost $4,909,000
- Merrillville – Mississippi Street and 69th Avenue roundabout; construction in 2026; total cost $2,125,000
- Munster – Main Street road reconstruction; construction in 2025; total cost $6,691,000
- Valparaiso – SR 130 & CR 400 N Roundabout; construction before 2030; total cost $2,410,000
- Porter County – Willowcreek Road from 700 N to SR 130, new road construction; construction in 2025; total cost $7,000,000
- St John – Cline Avenue from 101st to 93rd, new road construction; construction before 2030; total cost $9,137,000
- Winfield – roundabout at 117th and Randolph; construction in 2026; total cost $1,750,000
- La Porte County – Lincoln Trail extension from Westville to PNW; construction in 2025; total cost $2,000,000
- La Porte County – Michigan Avenue over Trail Creek bridge rehabilitation; construction before 2030; total cost $3,125,000
- Michigan City – Singing Sands Trail Phase 3 A & C; construction in 2026; total cost $2,668,000
- Michigan City – Singing Sands Trail Phase 3 D; construction before 2030; total cost $1,800,000
- City of La Porte – Signal preemption for emergency vehicles (various locations); construction in 2024; total cost $34,000
- City of La Porte/La Porte County – North South corridor, new road construction; design only $1,169,000 in 2025
Funding assistance for operating and new equipment, including buses, was granted to the following transit operators:
- East Chicago Transit – $669,000 in 2025 and $758,000 in 2026
- Gary Public Transportation Corp. – $7,922,000 in 2025 and $7,924,000 in 2026; Grant Street Corridor Rapid Transit expansion in 2023 with $750,000 for 3 years.
- Lake County Community Services – $552,000 in 2025 and $611,000 in 2026
- Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District – $29,736,000 in 2025 and $32,554,000 in 2026
- North Township Dial-a-Ride – $372,000 in 2025 and $385,000 in 2026
- Opportunity Enterprises – $277,000 in 2025 and $281,000 in 2026
- Porter County Aging and Community Services – $285,000 in 2025 and $386,000 in 2026
- Valparaiso Transit – $1,140,000 in 2025 and $1,100,000 in 2026
- La Porte TransPorte – $389,000 in 2025 and $398,000 in 2026
- Michigan City Transit – $848,000 in 2025 and $1,153,000 in 2026
Additional information on the projects is available on NIRPC’s website or by calling (219) 763-6060, or by email at nirpc@nirpc.org.
