Renewed NWI
NWI’s urban and rural centers are places people want to come
to and live in, and our environment is safe and healthy.
Spotlight
The US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has passed a bi-partisan transportation authorization bill out of Committee that is intended to replace the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act which expires at the end of the federal fiscal year 2020. This is just one early step in a long process of passing a new law that the President might sign. The new bill does a few notable things but also keeps quite a bit status quo.

The bill increases funding for transportation investments to $287 billion over five years and creates a number of new programs and pilots. Some of the new programs could assist with the implementation of the NWI 2050 Plan , such as programs to address climate resilience, build wildlife crossings, and help make our system safer and more reliable. So far, the details on this proposal only address investments from the Federal Highway Administration, as transit is dealt with in another Committee. As Congress continues to work on the next authorization bill NIRPC will continue to track developments. Follow this newsletter for updates.
Economy and Place
Environment
Mobility
Downtown Hammond will thrive as the urban core and heart of the city. The City hired the urban designer and planner Jeff Speck and his team to develop a master plan for downtown Hammond. The downtown is identified in NIRPC’s Creating Livable Centers study as one of the two major metro centers in Northwestern Indiana. A revived downtown will be achieved through quality urban design, continued creation of a high-quality public realm, a proposed train station, and a dense and livable pattern which will strengthen the overall health of the City.

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Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) , one of 16 key initiatives recommended in the NWI 2050 Plan , got a major boost with the announcement of a $25 million loan fund to support the development of TODs throughout NWI. Organized through the efforts of One Region and five local banks, the loan fund will pool resources and share risk to support the future land developments around South Shore Line stations. TOD is key securing a Renewed NWI.

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Interesting News!
  • ‘Experimental homes’ from 1933 World’s Fair provide learning experience for Northwest Indiana students - Post-Tribune
  • An itchy subject perhaps, but nonetheless important for planners and public health officials: bed bugs. Read more about what local governments can do - APA

Pick Your Favorite!
Indiana Tourism is running a "people's choice" vote for best brewery, trail, and main street in Indiana. Help make an NWI's brewery and trail standout! Vote daily here until November 3rd. Seven NWI breweries and four trails are in the running!
Grant Award News!
  • The CommuniTree Program is happy to announce that nearly 400 native trees are being awarded to communities and public organizations in Northwest Indiana’s Lake Michigan watershed this fall. NIRPC, as a partner in the CommuniTree Program, uses grant funding from the U.S. Forest Service to purchase native trees and sub-award them to communities to help restore urban tree canopy loss due to emerald ash borer. Over the past three years, more than 5,000 trees and 50 different tree species have been planted and maintained by CommuniTree Program partners and local communities.
  • The Town of Kingsford Heights was awarded a Community Development Block Grant through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs in the amount of $600,000 for wastewater system improvements. This project installs a new submersible pump station and a screening building along with new clarifier equipment and improvements to the wastewater system
  • The US Environmental Protection Agency announced Five Star Urban Waters Grants totaling $130,000 for projects in Chicago Area and Northwest Indiana.
NIRPC is updating the Congestion Management Process (CMP), a federally required framework for how NWI will effectively manage congestion. A working group consisting of relevant stakeholders has recently formed to oversee the CMP update. Scott Weber, Transportation Planner/Analyst at NIRPC recently recorded a segment about the CMP update on Green Fleets Radio with Carl Lisek, Executive Director of South Shore Clean Cities, that will air on September 11, 2019 on 89.1 FM.

Welcome new staff!
  • Kevin Polette has joined the Transportation Team as the new Technical Assistant. Kevin will assist with traffic counts, the ADA Bus Stop Inventory, and GIS. Kevin studied at Valparaiso University and received a B.A. in Geography.

Interesting News!
  • Governor Holcomb declares Munster’s 45th Street project ‘transformational’, ‘a model for rest of Indiana’
Participate!
NIPRC Environmental Management and Policy Committee Meeting
  • September 5th
  • 9:00 AM
  • Lake Michigan Room, 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368
  • Link for more information
  • Questions? Contact Candice Eklund at 219-254-2501
  • Can’t make it in person? Watch it on YouTube
National Drive Electric Week EV Ride & Drive
  • September 19th
  • 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  • 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368
  • Link to more info
Share a Comment!
NIRPC Technical Planning Committee Meeting - CANCELLED
  • September 10th
FarmHop Event
  • September 21st
  • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Valparaiso
  • Questions? Contact Gabrielle Biciunas at 219-254-2507
  • Link to more info
Funding Opportunity!
NIRPC Commission / Executive Board Meeting
Rail Crossing Task Force Meeting
  • October 1st
  • 1:30 PM
  • Lake Michigan Room, 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368
  • Questions? Contact Mitch Barloga at 219-254-2518
  • Link to more info
Funding Opportunity!
NIRPC Surface Transportation Committee Meeting
  • October 1st
  • 9:00 AM
  • Lake Michigan Room, 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368
  • Link for more information
  • Questions? Contact Scott Weber at 219-254-2520
  • Can’t make it in person? Watch it on YouTube
Walk to School Day
Funding Opportunity!
NIPRC Environmental Management and Policy Committee Meeting
  • October 3rd
  • 9:00 AM
  • Lake Michigan Room, 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368
  • Link for more information
  • Questions? Contact Candice Eklund at 219-254-2501
  • Can’t make it in person? Watch it on YouTube
Indiana Department of Transportation Title VI & ADA Summit
  • October 8th
  • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Government Center South, Conference Room C, 302 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN
  • Link to more info
Funding Opportunity!
  • The Federal Railroad Administration announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for its Consolidate Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program.
  • Applications are due October 18, 2019.
NIPRC Land Use Committee Meeting
  • October 3rd
  • 10:30 AM
  • Dune Room, 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368
  • Link for more information
  • Questions? Contact Eman Ibrahim at 219-254-2506
  • Can’t make it in person? Watch it on YouTube
Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable
Funding Opportunity!
NIPRC Ped, Pedal, and Paddle Committee Meeting
  • October 3rd
  • 1:30 PM
  • Dune Room, 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368
  • Link for more information
  • Questions? Contact Mitch Barloga at 219-254-2518
  • Can’t make it in person? Watch it on YouTube
Diversity and Inclusion Symposium 2019 - Save the Date
Funding Opportunity!