MICHIGAN CITY -The city of Michigan City has finalized it's approximate $12 million contribution to the proposed South Shore Line Double Track project. Council president Don Pryzbylinski told "The Times," the city made a commitment to fund Michigan City's portion to the project in 2017 and a unanimous vote on Tuesday by the city's common council is the honoring of that commitment. He said that should send a strong message to the Federal Transit Administration.
The common council voted to pay $7 million right away and finance the rest with proceeds of a 20-year bond issue. The money will reportedly come from the Michigan City Redevelopment Commission's tax increment financing district, which includes Dunes Plaza and Pryzbylinski says the debt could be paid off in 10-years.
The Double Track project is the addition a second set of rails to 16 miles of single-track railroad from Gary to Michigan City.
Other contributors are the Federal Transit Administration, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority for Lake and Porter Counties, LaPorte County and St. Joseph County.
