HOBART | The Hobart City Council has decided to get on board a protest against the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District closing its Miller Beach train stop.

The City Council on Wednesday approved signing a resolution opposing closing the South Shore Miller Beach train stop.

City Councilman David Vinzant, D-4th, said he has spoken to several Hobart residents who use the Miller station to travel to jobs in Chicago. And they want the stop to remain.

"It is the closest one for them," he said.

The proposal being considered by NICTD's board is to close the Miller Beach station and build a larger one in downtown Gary, which would have a $3 parking fee.

"It would make it harder for commuters," Vinzant said.

The NICTD board has not taken any action on the proposal, which could possibly be broached at its July 25 meeting, said John Parsons, NICTD marketing and planning director.

Parsons said today is the last day for the public to file written comment on the issue.

"We've gotten a considerable amount of comment on this issue; the most we've ever had and it's not over," he said.

He said public opinion has been somewhat divided. "We've heard from both sides of the argument," he said.

The consensus of comment at a public hearing held by the NICTD board on July 8 was definitely toward not closing the Miller Beach stop.

"The general theme is the Gary metro station is great for Gary but don't close Miller," he said.

He said there are approximately 504 weekday commuters who use the Miller stop and about 614 who use the Gary stop.

Gateway Partners LLC, which is proposing to build the new $120 million station in Gary, has stated it needs the volume from both stops to make its financing work, Parsons said.

And the company intends to charge a $3 parking fee, he said.

Primarily what the Miller riders are saying is that they don't want to pay the $3 parking fee that will be imposed by Gateway and that they'd rather board at Ogden Dunes or East Chicago.

In turn, Ogden Dunes officials have filed a protest with NICTD because there isn't sufficient parking there for more riders, Parsons said.

BREAKOUT

Today is the last day to submit written comment on the proposal to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District at 33 E. U.S. Highway 12, Chesterton.

Call (219) 926-5744 for information.