Connected NWI

NWI’s people have accessible, safe, and equal

opportunities for working, playing, living and learning.

The majority of NIRPC’s planning activities start on July 1st of each year and with our “New Year” NIRPC would like to share some of the planning activities now underway for a Connected NWI . In FY2020, the following tasks will be undertaken:

ADA Bus Stop Inventory - each bus stop along a fixed transit route throughout Northwestern Indiana will be evaluated for its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each municipality will then have to include non-compliant locations in their ADA Transition Plans.

Bicycle Sharing Opportunities and Model Ordinance - a map of ideal areas within Northwestern Indiana for bicycle sharing will be created. Coupled with a model ordinance, this task hopes to assist local municipalities to consider bicycle sharing as an additional mobility option to pursue for the residents.

Bicycle Tourism Strategies - modeling the Trail Towns concept, this task will highlight tourism opportunities in Northwestern Indiana near our growing multi-use trail network.

Critical Urban / Rural Freight Corridor Designations - The FAST Act created the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) and provided the opportunity to Metropolitan Planning Organizations larger than 500,000 people, to designate critical freight corridors. The designation allows for the corridor to be eligible to receive NHFP funds from Federal Highway Administration and administered by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Follow this newsletter and NIRPC’s social media for updates on these planning activities and opportunities to participate.

FarmHop Event

Join the NWI Food Council on the 3rd annual FarmHop - a great opportunity to hop on a bus to explore local farms and connect with the amazing work that takes place every day on the farms that grow the region’s food. The tours include diverse urban and rural local farms, community gardens and local food projects in Northwest Indiana. Tour dates include August 10th and September 21st, 2019 from 9am-4pm (individual tour times may vary slightly).

For registration information, visit www.NWIFoodCouncil.org or find NWI Food Council on Facebook. 

The NWI Food Council is a multi-stakeholder alliance that works to build a just, sustainable and thriving locally-oriented food system for Northwest Indiana through networking, education, advocacy and various projects. 

Lake County Eats Local

As part of the NWI 2050 Plan strategy to continue and strengthen the local food system, the Lake County Eats Local Program establishes farmers markets in the Gary and East Chicago neighborhoods and works to build market capacity in order to create permanent and sustainable food access for residents. Funded by the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program, this three year program is a collaboration between the Legacy Foundation , NWI Food Council , Purdue University Cooperative Extension , City of Gary Department of Environmental Affairs/Green Urbanism, and City of East Chicago to build a more cohesive local food system, address high rates of poverty and food insecurity in northern Lake County. The farmers markets began in June and will run for 16 weeks. The “Market On the Go” program will run throughout the year, visiting different locations each week of operation. Visit https://www.lakecountyeatslocal.org/ for more details.

The CommuniTree Program goal is to plant at least 1,500 native trees by fall 2020 to help offset urban tree canopy loss from emerald ash borer. Funding for this project is made possible through a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant awarded to the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission by the USDA Forest Service. Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 fall planting season. Trees must be planted in public spaces such as parks, schools, churches and along public roadway easements within Northwest Indiana’s Lake Michigan Watershed ( MAP ). Eligible applicants include municipalities, schools, churches, conservation organizations and other public entities. Applications are due Friday, August 2, 2019. Anticipated Notice of Award Date is Friday, August 23, 2019. Finally, anticipated Tree Planting & Care Workshop and tree pick up date is estimated for the third week of September.

Interesting news:

The recently adopted 2020-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the portfolio of Northwestern Indiana's upcoming capital investments and projects to improve our transportation program. The projects are categorized into one of thirteen programs. There are five transit programs to help make NWI connected: Operations , Asset Management , Customer Experience , Expansion , and Safety . Below are highlights of each programs' five-year investments for our bus operators throughout Northwestern Indiana.

Interesting news:

NIRPC Technical Planning Committee

FarmHop #1

Share a Comment!

NIRPC Commission / Executive Board Meeting

Rail Task Force Meeting

Funding Opportunity!

NIPRC Transportation Resources Oversight Committee / Lake and Porter

Indiana Land Use Summit

Funding Opportunity!

NIPRC Transportation Resources Oversight Committee / LaPorte

National Drive Electric Week EV Ride & Drive

Funding Opportunity!

NIPRC Environmental Management and Policy Committee

FarmHop Event #2

Employment Opportunity!