High-speed rail hitting speed bump at Porter Junction

PORTER | A congested rail junction in this town now holds the key to unlocking the potential of more than half a billion dollars in federal high-speed rail funds.

Transportation officials say Wednesday's announcement that Michigan has secured $196.5 million more for high-speed rail should move the Indiana Gateway project centered on Porter Junction to the front burner.

"This project is extremely important to Indiana, not just in terms of passenger rail but also in terms of freight," said Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Will Wingfield.

The Federal Railroad Administration approved $71.4 million for the Indiana Gateway project almost two years ago, but negotiations with railroads have dragged on as agreements on other projects have sped to a conclusion. It is a key link in the planned Chicago-to-Detroit high-speed rail route on which passenger trains will operate at up to 110 mph.

As many as 90 freight trains and 14 Amtrak trains per day rattle over Porter Junction, a spider web of tracks on the town line between Porter and Chesterton. Delays are frequent as trains wait for the junction to clear.

It is projected the Indiana Gateway project will create 703 construction jobs. In addition to work at the junction on reconfiguring tracks, there will be track and signal work done all the way to the Illinois state line.

Local officials were told getting agreements finalized for the $133 million Englewood Flyover project on Chicago's South Side and for the 135-mile track purchase in Michigan were first on the to-do list for the route, according to Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission Executive Director John Swanson.

"It was felt once agreements were reached on the other two grants it would be easier to reach agreement on the Indiana Gateway project," Swanson said.

In an email sent Thursday in response to questions on the Indiana Gateway, a Federal Railroad Administration spokesman stated: "FRA looks forward to facilitate an agreement between INDOT, Amtrak, and (Norfolk Southern) as soon as possible."

Michigan won $173 million for the Chicago-to-Detroit route in the first round of high-speed rail funding in early 2010. Wednesday's additional $196.5 million came from a pot of money refused by governors in other states.

Norfolk Southern is one of the key players in the Michigan, Indiana and Chicago rail projects. At the Porter Junction, Amtrak trains coming down from Michigan merge onto the Norfolk Southern tracks at Porter Junction. CSX trains and tracks also pass through the junction.