Laporte County intermodal rail yard

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Posted: 5:22 PM Sep 2, 2007
Last Updated: 6:54 PM Sep 2, 2007

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Former South Bend Mayor and Indiana Governor Joe Kernan will serve as a consultant for a proposed intermodal rail yard in Laporte County.

An intermodal yard is an area where multiple types of transportation meet. With respect to Laporte County, semi-trailer filled trains would stop and be emptied and sent across the region.

It's not the first time Kernan has pushed for an intermodal project.

When Kernan was South Bend's mayor he and former Congressman Tim Roemer appeared before a US House subcommittee about a project for South Bend.

Although that intermodal project did not involve transferring freight, it involved the transfer of people.

Kernan and Roemer sought millions of dollars to build a combined Amtrak and Transpo facility, however, funding eventually came through for the Transpo portion of the project.

The Laporte County project has been talked about for years and Kernan is working with Cressy and Everett, which has options to buy land in union mills.

Supporters have said it could bring thousands of jobs to the area.

“In addition to that transfer of freight, you develop warehouses, distribution centers, processing and manufacturing centers,” said Laporte Mayor Leigh Morris.

Moreover, supporters said property taxes from all of those businesses could lower taxes for the rest of the county.

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Posted by: formerunionmillsguy Location: La Porte on Sep 13, 2007 at 11:45 PM
I guess with all the mud slinging,we all need to back off alittle and let the facts surface instead of jumping off the handle.The farm land is critical and should not be lost.The KIP looks to be a good alternative,but I am sure the government will be slow to comply if any to clean up and development.The truck traffic will be great so watch out for the higher death tolls,but maybe we can get some better roads for all.There are pros and cons about the whole thing ,but maybe the new committee will provale with cool heads and head us in the right directions,making us the envy of the area.I believe that LaPorte has had many oportunities in the past to create jobs and pull businesses in,but old money and negative thinking drove it away.Maybe we should be taking some leasons from leaders in Porter County because they have grown,but almost to fast (scarry !)I just hope the we can ALL pull together and have a say in the future and not just a greedy few that will line their pockets at our cost.

Posted by: concerned Location: LaPorte County on Sep 7, 2007 at 11:30 PM
Hi LaPorte Citizens, Don't think that this intermodal is just going to effect Union Mills. Your Mayor and his buddies have some big road projects that are going to remove some of YOUR homes, too, and go through YOUR land. Public comment period unfortunately over it seems. Oops- forgot to let affected people know? Sound familiar? SEPTEMBER 11th if you love LaPorte County! The 2:30pm meeting is a work session for the La Porte County Transportation Planning Group that has no relationship to the New Economic Development Corridor nor the Intermodal Facility. They will be reviewing the status of each transportation project already in the plan. The New Economic Development Corridor Steering Committee is meeting at 4:00pm, Tuesday, September 11, in the meeting room at the La Porte County Complex. It is open to the public.

Posted by: Terri Location: Union Mills on Sep 7, 2007 at 06:02 AM
It won't lower our taxes, it won't enhance our community with low paying jobs. The intermodal would be an eyesore and the outlying buildings would destroy the community and life as we know it. I moved there to enjoy the rural life, not to live in an industrial dump. Yes, we are against it because it won't do anything for the residents but it will line the politicians and developers' pockets. NO INTERMODAL or ILLIANA TOLL ROAD projects in Union Mills!!

Posted by: Dave Location: Wilders on Sep 4, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Don't think I have seen any thing on the suicide of an inmate at the Westville Control Unit at Westville Correctional??

Posted by: Inter(Com)modal is more like it Location: Down the Pipes on Sep 4, 2007 at 03:35 PM
If this project goes through- Union Mills and surrounding residents- will see their quality of life flushed right down the toilet! You'll notice that very, very few- if any- residents of Union Mills are in favor of this project. All of the so-called "support" is from out of the community. I too, would much prefer to see this project placed at the site of the former Kingsbury Ordinance Plant. But just like the developers that won't touch the Studebaker corridor with a hundred foot pole, Inter(COM)modal supporters never saw a productive acre of farmland they wouldn't rather ruin and despoil- there really ought to be a law. Joe Kernan should drop his involvement in this like a hot potato befoe he loses every iota of the credibility he once had in Northern Indiana.

Posted by: Intermodal isn't really a great idea ~ Location: Union Mills on Sep 3, 2007 at 05:45 PM
Why can't they put this in the ordinance plant! Wouldn't it be nice to have that ground cleaned up and leave the farm ground alone. Jobs yeah right, just like all those other jobs that LaPorte has to offer. Every one that thinks its a great idea doesn't have it moving into there neighborhood or back yard. I think it would be great if they go rid of the fairgrounds and put it there. Why not have it down town LaPorte, theres not much business opportunities there. Why not Mayor Morris! I think you all need to rethink this, but I'm sure it's a done deal.

Posted by: Say No to Intermodal Location: Union Mills on Sep 3, 2007 at 10:33 AM
The people in Union Mills are adamently against this development. This proposal has been cloaked in secrecy with elected officials signing confidentiality agreements not to mention this project. This is worse than any surrent deal I have seen.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 3, 2007 at 02:58 AM
Living in LaPorte I think its a good idea. Anything to lower the property taxes. I will say, thanks to them we have some of the best county roads in the northern part of Indiana. You can tell when you exit out of LaPorte when your about on the back roads.

Posted by: Scott Location: La Porte on Sep 2, 2007 at 11:17 PM
This is a good idea, and It would bring allot of jobs to the area. And boost local economy in the county, as well as making it easier on local companies to ship and receive goods in the area.