NICTD President Michael Noland knows that Dave Dech could have chosen a much larger rail system to lead. But Dech is on his way to Northwest Indiana to take over the reins of the South Shore Line.
“Dave is uniquely qualified to take this railroad into a successful future, and I will be cheering loudly from the sidelines,” Noland said in a LinkedIn post.
Noland announced his plans to retire in November, six months after his target date of turning 65 years old.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time here at the South Shore Line and look forward to retirement,” Noland said.
Dech, the executive director of the South Florida Transportation Authority, will be the third president of the almost 50-year-old Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.
The South Shore Line is a commuter rail line operated by the NICTD. It runs between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and South Bend International Airport.
The NICTD board of trustees tasked the same search firm that hired Noland in 2014 with finding his replacement. Harris Rand Lusk based in New York conducted a national search and narrowed the field to about 30 candidates, Noland said. But ultimately, Dech stood out among the candidates.
“Dave is one of the greatest commuter rail executives in the country,” Noland said.
Dech has led the Florida owner of the Tri-Rail, an 80-mile commuter train system with 19 stations in south Florida's Palm Beach area, since 2022. He also worked for Capital Metro in the Austin, Texas, area and CSX, a freight rail service. He started as a locomotive engineer in 1995 at CSX.
In a phone interview, Noland sounded a little in awe of Dech's decision to come to Northwest Indiana. He said Dech's recruitment speaks volumes about the economic development in the Region and the excitement for things to come.
“I can sleep well knowing (the South Shore Line is) in incredibly good hands,” Noland said.
He also said the stability of leadership at the NICTD is a plus for attracting top talent. Of the other 31 commuter train districts in the country, the NICTD has had only two leaders – Dech will be the third.
Noland said Dech must have thought long and hard about the move here.
“He's trading 100 degrees in temperature,” Noland said.
Dech will be busy until March 16, his start date, Noland said. Like the NICTD, Dech works with local and state governments.
“He will need everything to be in good shape before he leaves,” Noland said. “Once he arrives here, it will be like a fire hose.”
Like Dech, Noland won't leave loose ends. He will continue to close out the Westlake Corridor project, which has had some delays. Noland had hoped it would be completed by his birthday in May. He said what will be called the Monon Corridor service line is a huge accomplishment for the Region.
Noland led the double-track project to completion in 2024. The West Lake Corridor Project is expected to wrap up in the first quarter of 2026.
“I will look back on (these projects) and be so proud,” he said, especially since it had been more than 70 years since the last expansion of commuter rail service. “That brings me joy.”
Noland said the Double Track Northwest Indiana and Westlake projects changed the narrative in the Region.
“The reputation of our Region was dysfunctional,” he said. “That's how it came across to me. No vision. We weren't all pointed in the right direction.”
But that mindset changed as lawmakers and leaders wanted more for Northwest Indiana.
“Our projects changed it,” he said. “Finally enough people with a vision for the Region got together.
“It was an incredible force to watch this section of the state come together.”
Now, the Region's stakeholders work together, for the most part, Noland said.
“I see cooperation between potical bodies like I hadn't seen in the past,” he said.
The South Shore Line has had some bumps along the way. The NICTD increased fares July 1, the first time in more than seven years. And falling leaves have caused problems in the fall. They turn into slurry when crushed that causes track delays.
Noland said the train brings freedom from the congestion of Chicago's expressways.
“We have to continue to work hard to make it an easier decion to attract people driving downtown,” he said.
Noland said the double-track and other infrasture improvements also make the case for the Chicago Bears to call the Region home.
“We are a really viable option for the Bears,” he said. “The Bears are taking us seriously. We're a destination of choice.”
Plus, there's anther reason the Bears might come here, Noland said. George Halas played professionally for the Hammond All-Stars in 1919 before he played for the Decatur Staleys, which became the Chicago Bears (1920-1928).
As for retirement, Noland said he will stay in Long Beach “where we have roots.” He called home “our little slice of heaven.”
When first asked what he will do once he retires, he said, “I am playing golf.” But he left the door open “if someone calls me up and wants me to give them some advice.”
