Opposition over the planned location of a new South Shore train station at Ridge Road and Manor Avenue continued Monday night at another packed house meeting of the Munster Town Council .
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But Monday wasn’t the only opportunity for residents to be heard about the proposal.
The council meets in a study session at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Town Hall. Once the council closes the public comment portion of the meeting they will get on with discussing the contents of a resolution drafted by residents targeting the Northern Indiana Public Transportation District (NICTD) and its West Lake Corridor Project.
The proposed resolution plots several concessions involving the construction of the train station. These include specific height and type of fencing around the station and parking lot, resident-only parking on streets within one mile of the station, widening Harrison Avenue, quiet zones through residential areas, a traffic control study and financial compensation to homeowners within a quarter-mile of the station or train tracks in the event property values decrease.
Whether council members agree to keep all, some or none of the resolution remains to be seen. Council President Joe Simonetto reminded the residents Monday that the town cannot dictate the project but hopes to be influential nonetheless.
“We’re just as confused about a lot of things as you are,” he said.
Munster is allocating 34 percent of its annual economic development funds derived from the Lake County Option Income Tax as part of the local match from the Regional Transportation Authority to the federal earmark U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, is seeking to fund the South Shore’s expansion.
Councilman John Reed explained the town is “buying a seat at the table” so that NICTD officials will strongly consider Munster’s wishes with respect to the project. He said the fact the train will come through Munster and that a station will be located in town is not the town’s decision and that it will happen, provided the federal funding is secured, whether anyone likes it or not.
“We are here to protect the people of Munster, but you’re never going to make 25,000 people happy,” Reed said. “We’re going to do everything we can to lessen the impact on our residents.”
Munster resident Adam Cooper lamented the loss of the bike path near the station, while Jason Lucas questioned the need for the expansion. A daily rider of the South Shore to Chicago, Lucas, who lives in the 8400 Block of Harrison Avenue near the planned station, said more and more people are telecommuting for work and thus questioned the need to expand the commuter railway.
“I don’t believe people will move to Munster to be close to a train station,” he said. “I moved here for the community.”
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.