The St. Joseph County Airport Authority held a public workshop on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at Dickinson Intermediate School, 4404 Elwood Avenue, South Bend, IN 46628. The public workshop was conducted in an open house format where interested parties were invited to attend anytime between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The public workshop was being held to provide information on an environmental assessment (EA) conducted to analyze potential impacts of the proposed relocation of the interchange of U.S. 31 and U.S. 20/Lincolnway West, and a portion of the South Shore Rail Line that departs from the airport terminal, connecting South Bend to Chicago.

Relocation of the U.S. 31/U.S. 20-Lincolnway West interchange would improve the amount of time that air carriers could use the airport’s primary runway, resulting in fewer aircraft delays, improved customer service and reducing operating costs for the airlines. Moving the interchange, would also open approximately 74 acres of land that could have airfield access allowing additional airport development. The proposed new location for the interchange is approximately one-half mile south of the existing interchange.

At the same time as the interchange relocation, there is an opportunity to relocate a portion of the South Shore Rail Line. The rail relocation will reduce the amount of time that it takes for the South Shore Rail Line to reach Chicago and address safety and traffic restriction issues by reducing the number of at-grade crossings along the rail route. The South Shore rail provides a critical link between the City of South Bend, South Bend Regional Airport, the northwest region of Indiana, and the City of Chicago with nine trains per weekday, and additional weekend service.

This was the second of three planned public workshops. Information provided is detailed noise impacts and roadway traffic flow as well as maps and other illustrations of the proposed improvements. Representatives of the Airport Authority staff and consulting team conducting the study were available to discuss the preferred alternatives being proposed for the improvements and answer public questions regarding the potential environmental impacts and associated residential acquisitions.

The EA is being conducted in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations, and the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The EA will consider twenty-two areas of potential environmental impact. Where actions are found to have environmental consequences, mitigation measures will be identified and recommended for approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Environmental approval is required before the proposed projects are eligible for FAA funding.

A public hearing will take place approximately one and one half months. Completion of the EA is anticipated in late 2006.

For additional information contact John Schalliol at 282-4590 #224.