New Metra SouthEast Line: Will it revitalize south suburbs?

[MillennialUrbanist]

Originally Posted by pvande55

The South Shore now has funding to build a branch line to Dyer. The new line run parallel to the Southeast service, within ten miles. Patronage of the two would largely overlap. This means that construction of the Southeast service is highly unlikely.

These lines are in different states and under different jurisfuctions: Southeast Line is under Metra, West Lake Corridor is under NICTD. In addition, State Line Road, acting as a border between Hammond and south suburbs, has a median barrier along much of its length. A pedestrian can walk across it if he wishes, but driving across is possible only at major intetsections. So the two lines aren't likely to cannibalize each other.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by pvande55

The South Shore now has funding to build a branch line to Dyer. The new line run parallel to the Southeast service, within ten miles. Patronage of the two would largely overlap. This means that construction of the Southeast service is highly unlikely.

I don't think that'd be a major factor. The Metra Electric main line runs even closer to the proposed SouthEast line stations and overlapping patronage doesn't seem to figure strongly in reasons to not move forward with the SouthEast line.

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

I don't think that'd be a major factor. The Metra Electric main line runs even closer to the proposed SouthEast line stations and overlapping patronage doesn't seem to figure strongly in reasons to not move forward with the SouthEast line.

If you come from Lansing, Lynwood or Sauk Village it's a shorter drive to the West Lake corridor than to the Metra Electric.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by pvande55

If you come from Lansing, Lynwood or Sauk Village it's a shorter drive to the West Lake corridor than to the Metra Electric.

Yea, I can see that, but I don't think that makes much impact in the Dyer branch taking the wind out of the sails for the SouthEast line. The largest by far of those three is Lansing and without the Dyer branch, the most convenient stop was still going to be the existing South Shore Line trains for most there. Meanwhile, the SouthEast Line was planning on going smack dab through some cities where the Metra Electric lines is going to be the closest line prior to the existence of a SouthEast Metra service.

[Northwest Indiana]

This article is from about a year ago: Metra pauses plan for SouthEast line through south suburbs

From the article "Following a January 2019 study, transportation officials determined the SouthEast Service line needed more study to review financial outcomes."

Safe to say that unfortunately the project is dead for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, right across the border, the NICTD West Lake Corridor Project is full speed ahead! Ridge Rd in Munster is closed from at Manor Ave as new track is being laid across. I will say that while it is inevitable that this project will have positive impacts in NWI--specifically for Hammond, Munster, Dyer, as well as Highland, Schererville, and St. John, I am hoping that this will also have a positive impact for Lansing and Lynwood as well! For Lansing, the areas closest to the Munster border generally have older pre-war housing stock but there has been quite a few flips and homes selling for a much higher amount than typically seen. I would love to think that despite the taxes being higher in Lansing than Munster, the much higher real estate value for a comparable (or even smaller) Munster home would have some buyers see proximity to the new rail extension as a selling point for buying in Lansing as they could be priced out of Munster and would have to move further into Indiana in order to gain affordability (but then lose that proximity to the rail).

For Lynwood, there has still been some new construction homes. The pandemic really helped rile up some dormant subdivisions that had been started anywhere from 10-20 years ago and while interest rates have increased, new construction is still going on. You can get a new home in Lynwood for $400k whereas that new home in Munster would be $700k. Yes, the taxes would be less in Munster but besides the obviously vast price difference, there are folks that are still buying into places like Lynwood and very happy with their moves. Yes, there are many people who desire to flee Illinois for Indiana; however, there are also people who have no desire to move to Indiana at all, ever, even if they could afford the higher price-tag of some of the bordering neighborhoods. This is a big benefit to Lynwood for sure and I hope the extension serves them well--even better if Main St was extended west from Munster/Dyer into Lynwood but that's a heated topic (mainly for Indiana folks).