CHESTERTON - The South Shore implemented a downscaled schedule on Monday (March 23rd) to better reflect the decreased ridership amid the COVID-19 virus. Lakeshore Public Radio spoke with Michael Noland, President of the South Shore Line about the reduced weekday service schedule and whether or not the Double Tracking project and the West Lake Corridor project will be effected by the Coronavirus outbreak. Noland says he thinks despite the current situation, the future projects will go on as planned.
"I don't believe that's it's going to have an impact on the future projects and our progression towards constructing those projects," Noland says.
However, Noland says from an operational perspective, COVID-19 is causing difficulties for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District as it is for anyone else in the travel industry.
"There really are no events or entertainment type opportunities for individuals to go into Chicago at the present time," Noland says. "People are heeding public health care official advice to stay home, stay in place."
Normally the South Shore generates a little less than $2 million dollars per month of ridership revenue, according to Noland. He says at this point, he projects NICTD is going to have a $1.5 million per month revenue loss for each and every month the COVID-19 event continues. Noland says the South Shore can whether the storm in the short term, but if the COVID-19 fallout were to continue to impact ridership indefinitely, NICTD would have to make substantial changes.
