Visclosky Requests Transportation Equity Act Funding

Washington, D.C.  – Congressman Pete Visclosky today asked a Congressional subcommittee for funding for 37 Northwest Indiana transportation projects that will improve infrastructure and transportation and create jobs locally.  Visclosky, in testimony before the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit, and Pipelines, a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, requested funding for projects in all five counties of the First Congressional District as part of the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA).

“Investments in our infrastructure not only improve transportation, but they also create jobs,” Visclosky said.  “By improving our highways, streets, and railroads, we can put people to work while also facilitating safer and more convenient traveling for our citizens.  I will work hard to get as much funding as possible for these projects requested by our local leaders.”

Following is a complete list of requested projects local leaders submitted to Visclosky.  Visclosky requested all of these projects in his testimony.  Projects requested are listed in alphabetical order.

• 100 South improvements, Porter County – to provide an alternative to U.S. 30.
• 109th Avenue interchange, Crown Point – to create access off of Interstate 65 to this U.S. 30 alternative.
• 45th Avenue improvements, Lake County – to reconstruct three miles of 45th Avenue from Colfax Street to Grant Street in Calumet Township, as an alternative to Ridge Road.
• 45th Street overpass, Munster – to reduce congestion and improve east-west traffic
• 61st Avenue improvements, Hobart – to widen this heavily traveled thoroughfare between Colorado Street and Indiana 51.
• Bailie Street Improvements, Kentland – to provide safe access to Ross Industrial Park.
• Benton County road improvements – to facilitate truck traffic to and from a new dairy farm.
• Borman Expressway pedestrian bridge, Lake Station – for non-vehicular access through the Ripley Street (Indiana 51) corridor.
• Bos Highway improvement project, Jasper County – to improve an eight-mile stretch of County Road 1000 West from Indiana 10 to Indiana 14, due to expected additional traffic related to the dairy industry.
• Bridge replacement at Samuelson Road, Portage – to improve transportation safety and capacity by widening Samuelson Road to two lanes underneath the CSX railroad tracks.
• Calumet Avenue extension, Dyer – to provide a four-lane alternative north/south route to Indianapolis Boulevard by connecting Calumet Avenue with U.S. 30.
• Connection of Vale Park Road, Valparaiso – to widen Silhavy Road, a frontage road for Indiana 49, to three lanes between LaPorte Avenue and Vale Park Road.
• East/West connection between Mississippi Street and Colorado Street, Hobart – to spur interest in economic development in this area.
• Fowler downtown improvements – to construct a new downtown streetscape that will attract and retain businesses, residents, and pedestrian traffic in the town.
• Gary Marina Access Road – to improve access to the Lake Michigan waterfront for economic redevelopment.
• Indiana State Road 312 realignment, Hammond – to alleviate delay and safety issues at two railroad intersections.
• Interstate 80 travel lanes, Hammond – to add new travel lanes on the Borman Expressway.
• Jasper-Benton Highway Improvement Project, Jasper County – to improve a five-mile stretch of County Road 1080 West from Indiana 24 to the dairy area.
• Kennedy Avenue extension, Schererville – to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on this alternative route to U.S. 41 that connects East Chicago, Hammond, Highland, and Schererville.
• Lake County Buses Automated Vehicle Locator System – to accomplish increased efficiency and reduced duplication in providing transportation among non-profits in Lake County.
• Main Street extension, Munster – to provide relief to Ridge Road and U.S. 30.
• Newberry Dairy Highway Improvement Project, Jasper County – to improve a 5.5-mile stretch of County Road 400 North from U.S. 231 to Indiana 49 and a two-mile stretch of County Road 200 West from County Road 400 North to County Road 600 North.
• North Calumet Avenue infrastructure improvements, Valparaiso – to reduce congestion and improve safety, as well as stimulate economic vitality in the North Calumet Avenue area.
• Pennsy Greenway Northwest Bike Trail, Crown Point – to connect two major regional trail systems, the Erie-Lackawanna Trail in Northwest Indiana and the Grand Illinois Trail.  The Pennsy Greenway will be part of the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail network.
• Railroad realignment, Four Cities Consortium (Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Whiting) – to consolidate and reroute existing rail freight and passenger routes in Northwest Indiana to eliminate highway/railroad grade crossings and allow for development of full-service, air-rail terminal for the Gary/Chicago Airport.
• Reconstruction of Broad Street, Ridge Road, and Main Street, Griffith – to repair Broad Street, which is expected to see increased traffic this year due to planned reconstruction on Interstates 80, 90, 94, and U.S. 41.
• Ridge Road, Gary – to widen Ridge Road as a continuation of work already done in Highland, Griffith, Hobart, and unincorporated Lake County.
• Silver Lake Environmental Corridor Demonstration Project, Valparaiso – to provide connectivity between Indiana 49 and Indiana 130, as well as provide a major continuous roadway across the northern part of Valparaiso.
• South Calumet Road extension, Chesterton – to reduce traffic congestion by creating a two-way, left-turn lane on Calumet Road, and to improve drainage by installing a curb and gutter with a storm-sewer system.
• South Shore commuter line Modernization and Extension Project (authorization only).
• South Shore transit line enhancement (authorization only) – to complete restructuring started in 1990 when the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) acquired a bankrupt freight railroad line between Chicago’s Kensington neighborhood and South Bend.
• Standard Avenue, Whiting – to help BP Amoco reduce access to its Whiting facility in conjunction with Homeland Security needs, and also to connect to East Chicago and benefit ISG steel mill traffic flow.
• State Road 14, Jasper County – to construct a new interchange off of Interstate 65 that will reduce wear and tear to county roads currently serving dairy farms.
• State Road 912, Lake County – to decrease congestion by adding travel lanes between U.S. 12 and Interstate 80/94.
• Waverly Road reconstruction, Porter – to improve intersections with the South Shore railroad, U.S. 12, U.S. 20, and the Amtrak/CSX crossing, and to improve pedestrian crossings at Interstate 94 and the Little Calumet River.
• Widening of Silhavy Road, Valparaiso – to widen Silhavy Road two three lanes between LaPorte Avenue and Vale Park Road.
• Wisconsin Street extension, Hobart – to spur new growth and development by extending Wisconsin Street from 61st Avenue to U.S. 30.