I talked to Robert Murry (rjmurry13@comcastr.com) who live all of his life so far in Michigan City.
He is not a engineer of any sorts. He just used his head and memory to lay out a easier, cheaper, lest intrusive. more convent route for the Chicago South Shore & South Bend to take instead of 10 & 11 street use.
Robert remembered what is now an abandon roadbed. He scouted it out and plotted out a much better rerouting of the tracks.
One where NICTD considered going up the East side of Trail Creek and needing to build a ++ million dollar bridge over Trail Creek.
Robert laid out a route that did not need a bridge at all. He suggest using the West side of Trail Creek. The tracks will go under the present bridge used by RT12 over Trail Creek. The bridge is even built to let the tracks and catenary pass under it.
The route would greatly reduce the number of homes that need to be removed.
Where NICTD's route would cut Michigan City in half.
Robert's route would not. The land is mostly open.
NICTD would have to close 17 intersections and fence off the tracks.
Robert's route might close a very small number and NO fencing.
The Northern route would give passengers easy access to Light House Mall, Washington Park (beach), Blue Chip, and many restaurants down Franklyn Street and towards the beach.
NICTD proposes building a multi-level parking in the middle of town. The northern route has a lot of open land to build.
Below is Roberts Proposal
Every one is turning a deaf ear to Robert's suggest route.
The very suggestion that poiticians would do anything illegal is just shocking ( not really they are all a lower order of leachs in my opinion) however... Does this route service the most people and is it it convenient to get to? Does it have locations for adequate parking and a station or stations? It could be doable but there are issues other than where the tracks go to consider
Yes the proposed route would be just as convent as the 11st route. Plus there is land for passenger convenience expansion.
I forgot to write about the biggest Joke the South Shore proposed. The South Shore said the with the new 11st route. The South Shore could run at 50 to 60 M.P.H.
Amtrak and C.N. does not run through the city over 30 M.P.H. on their own tracks.
I just heard on the Local news radio why NICTD South shore RR is not considering the NORTHERN route.
They claim the government will not give any monetary assistance for that route.
So it seem that the more damage and disruption they do the more money they get.