The Town of North Judson is taking offers for its short line railroad. Proposals are due next Monday at 4:00 p.m. CST. They’ll be opened by the redevelopment commission later that evening.
The legal notice says bidders have the option to purchase the portion of the railroad located in LaPorte and Porter counties that’s typically used for freight traffic, the portion in Starke County used by the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, or both. The new owner would still have to honor the operating agreement with the Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad and allow the museum to run passenger trains in Starke County. The sale would apparently have to be approved by both the Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad and the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum President Todd Flanigan continued to express some concern with the impact on his organization, during last week’s town council meeting. He noted that the new owners of the Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad have been open to the idea of letting the museum resume running trains to LaCrosse, but he worried that progress may be erased if the line is acquired by a company that doesn’t tolerate passenger traffic.
Town Attorney Justin Schramm assured Flanigan that any future owner will at least have to allow the museum to continue operating on the portion of the railroad that it’s currently using. He also said the museum’s passenger operations are a priority for INDOT.
Schramm said that most of the companies he’s heard from are only interested in the section in Porter and LaPorte counties. The town has previously discussed the idea of donating the Starke County portion to the museum.
Schramm also said that using a request for proposals process through the redevelopment commission gives the town some more flexibility compared to the traditional bid process. The town doesn’t have to take the highest offer and can enter into direct negotiations if none of the bidders meet the town’s asking price.
In addition to the price, the legal notice says the redevelopment commission will also consider the bidders’ plan for future use, as well as its economic development impact, among other factors.
