HAMMOND, Ind. — Construction is officially underway on a new downtown train station in Hammond, marking a key milestone in the city’s broader effort to enhance regional connectivity and revitalize its urban core.
City officials broke ground on April 16 for the station, located along Russell Street, following the launch of passenger service on the Monon Corridor earlier this spring. The station project, which carries a $10 million price tag, was not included in the original transit plan and is now moving forward as a complementary addition.
The new station comes after the start of passenger rail service on the Monon Corridor, an 8-mile stretch of track linking north Hammond to the Munster/Dyer station and providing connections to Chicago. Service officially began March 31, enabling the city to proceed with construction.
According to former Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District president and general manager Michael Noland, the station was not part of the original West Lake Corridor plan. Incorporating it earlier would have delayed the broader rail project by at least a year.
Instead, planners designed the elevated rail alignment to accommodate a future station between Douglas and Russell streets, near the federal courthouse.
“This is an important step for the revitalization of downtown Hammond,” Mayor Thomas McDermott said in a press release. “This station was not originally slated for a stop on the West Lake line, but we worked with NICTD to find the best location in downtown for it.”
The station has been designed by Alexander Gorlin Architects, with input from urban planner Jeff Speck, who authored Hammond’s 2019 Downtown Master Plan.
The project includes not only the station platform but also a public square west of the rail line, reinforcing the city’s goal of creating a more walkable and vibrant downtown environment.
“This station will ‘become one of the centerpieces of the new urban plan to revitalize the city center,’” said architect Alexander Gorlin.
Funding for the project includes $2.8 million from the READI 1.0 grant program administered by the NWI Forum. The remaining costs will be covered through the city’s food and beverage tax.
Regional business leaders also highlighted the broader economic impact of the investment.
“This project marks an exciting step forward for the region,” the Crossroads Chamber stated in a LinkedIn post. “Strengthening transportation infrastructure like this plays a critical role in connecting our communities, supporting local businesses and driving continued economic growth across Northwest Indiana.”
Construction is expected to be completed by August, positioning the station as a key transit hub and catalyst for continued downtown redevelopment.
Originally reported by Heather Pfundstein in Northwest Indiana Business.
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