Vibrant NWI

NWI’s economy is thriving, our people are well educated, growth is

planned, and natural and agricultural areas are valued and protected.

The Unity Foundation and the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau teamed up to strengthen the community of La Porte County and its future. The Vibrant Communities of La Porte County Initiative is designed to engage community members in an important discussion to determine where the community is today, where it would like to be, and how it intends to get there. The Initiative is an effort to develop a county-wide action agenda to create more prosperous, attractive and proud communities. The Vibrant Initiative will evaluate past initiatives, engage the communities in a thoughtful discussion of ideas, and build positive momentum with the Action Agenda. The Action Agenda will then guide the future of all the communities of La Porte County based on its residents’ vision and shared goals. Citizen involvement in the action agenda is critical to developing the vision for the county’s future and how to make that vision become a reality. The five-phase process is projected to take place over seven months. Learn more about the initiative and its process here .

Interesting News!

Last month, the Greenways Foundation hosted six Trail Town Workshops around Indiana.  In all, over 200 stakeholders took part to learn how to provide incentives to lure trail users into their communities.  One of these workshops took place at NIRPC offices in Portage.

The Trail Town Program started along the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage in Pennsylvania and Maryland with the goal of increasing local economic activity for communities where the trail runs through. 

Over the last 10 years that the program has been in effect, 65 new businesses were created with 270 new jobs added for small towns along the path. This in turn has generated a $50 million economic impact per year, leaping from 25% of the local income to 40% in a six-year span.

NIRPC aims to work with the Greenways Foundation and our local communities to promote Trail Town strategies and improve their economic potential.  For more information, click here .

Future generations will be able to look back at 2019 as a year that helped create a more vibrant NWI through sustainable transportation efforts.

The year brought the first round of Indiana Volkswagen Mitigation Trust funding for region vehicle emission reduction projects, U.S. EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program funding for new propane-powered school buses, clean diesel semis, ready mix trucks and loaders as well as CNG refuse trucks and marine repowers.

2019 also saw multiple sustainable outreach and education efforts, including the return of "Green Fleet Radio" on Lakeshore Public Radio in partnership with NIRPC and South Shore Clean Cities and multiple educational events through the NIRPC/SSCC Green Fleet program. To l earn more click here .

Whoa! Is that a train going down the middle of 45th Street in Munster?

Last year a truly transformative transportation project began in Munster.  45th St (east of Calumet Ave) will be diverted under two railroad tracks which runs parallel on the south side of the road and connected to the south junction of 45th St and Calumet Ave. 

Up until recently, the north junction of 45th and Calumet Ave was about 300 yards north of the south junction. The busy railroad tracks meant that this area was one of the most congested intersections in northwest Indiana. 

In late October of 2019, a temporary track runaround was completed so that the contractor could excavate and construct a bridge for the original tracks and complete the necessary utility work. In the spring of 2020, the road portion will resume construction.

This $20+ million project includes an underpass, lift station and bike path and brought together several funding sources including local, state, federal and private. This project will substantially be complete by December of 2020.

Participation Opportunity!

NIRPC is currently surveying NWI residents, businesses, and travelers on their experience with congestion. NIRPC is updating NWI's Congestion Management Process, which influences the kind of investments and planning NIRPC and INDOT can pursue in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. Please take some time to share your thoughts!

NIRPC Environmental Management and Policy Committee Meeting

FED 2020: Food Expo & Discussion

NIRPC Technical Planning Committee Meeting

NIRPC Full Commission/ Executive Board Meeting