The future of the Nickel Plate rail line running from downtown Indianapolis north to Tipton should be known in the coming months.  Local government leaders must decide whether to move forward with a proposed trail along the line through Fishers and Noblesville.

As you may recall, the Indiana State Fair Train had been a reliable feature for more than 30 years.  The train would load up with passengers in downtown Fishers, head to the fairgrounds on the Nickel Plate Rail Line, then unload the fairgoers at 38th Street and Fall Creek in Indianapolis.  The train also brought people from the fairgrounds back to downtown Fishers.

Those excursions ended in 2016.  The Hoosier Heritage Port Authority commissioned an independent inspection of the train tracks between Fishers and the Indiana State Fairgrounds and determined the rail line to be unsafe, nixing the fair train last year.

At a meeting of the Port Authority in April, it was confirmed that there is no way an operator could be in place in time for a 2017 Indiana State Fair Train.  Therefore, for a second year in a row, there will be no fair train.

The entire outlook for the Nickel Plate changed dramatically in late February when officials from Fishers and Noblesville announced plans to convert the rails from 96th Street in Fishers north to Pleasant Street in Noblesville to a trail for walking, jogging and biking.  The proposed trail would be 9.2 miles and would cost an estimated $9.3 million.

There were 2 “listening sessions” shortly after the announcement, one in Fishers, the second in Noblesville.  The Fishers event offered no public testimony, just personal one-on-one discussions with city officials.  The second in Noblesville did provide the equivalent of a public hearing, and there were emotional pleas to keep the rail line going for the trains.

Another aspect of this is a Request for Proposals issued by the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, a body made up of appointees from the cities of Fishers and Noblesville, as well as Hamilton County…..providing oversight and maintenance of the line.   The Authority is taking these proposals to see what potential operators can do in restoring the rails and bringing train service back to the Nickel Plate.

Port Authority President Mike Obergfell was asked during a recent forum held at Hamilton Heights High School why the Authority is taking Requests for Proposals when the cities of Noblesville and Fishers have announced their intention to pursue a trail along the Nickel Plate.

Obergfell described conversations he had with the rail line owners (Fishers, Noblesville and Hamilton County) explaining that no one knows whether a proposal will come along to bring the rails up to safety standards and provide a viable set of rail services.  In other words, don’t make a final decision on the trail until it is known what possibilities are out there for train service.

Any new bidder would need to put a lot of money on the table, well into the millions, to repair and bring back the train service.  It’s not impossible, but a tall order.  Once the proposals are evaluated, we will know more.

 

Proposals are due by June 10th.  A decision is expected in July or August, depending on how detailed any interview process may be.

Another proposal has been kicked around providing for both a restored rail line and a trail along the Nickel Plate, side by side.  That would appear to be a solution everyone can support.  But there is a problem.

The rail line is too narrow in many stretches to allow enough room for both rail and trail.  In order to pursue a rail with trails proposal, local governments, through the Port Authority, would need to buy-up large plots of land along the rail line.

If owners don’t want to sell, government could threaten condemnation, forcibly taking the land.  Whether sold willingly or by condemnation, the price tag of a rails plus trails program would raise the price substantially.  Then the question would be, will taxpayers be willing to foot that large bill?

So, here’s how the situation stands.  Proposals are due soon for potential rail operators on the Nickel Plate, and the cities of Fishers and Noblesville, along with Hamilton County, appear to be moving forward with the trail plans, at least for now.

I have very mixed emotions about all this.  I took my daughters on the Fair Train in their younger years.  My wife and I have enjoyed the dinner excursions.  I understand that the Nickel Plate rail line is a big part of our history.  Preserving it does keep a part of our local history alive.

But local governments are faced with some stark choices.  I know many Fishers officials believe the trail proposal is transformative and will serve local residents for many years to come.  I do believe they would be open to a rail proposal if it is a transformative one that provides regular service drawing people to our area, and be an amenity for those living here.

I don’t know how this will end up, but I do know the following weeks and months will be crucial in how this all moves forward.  If you have strong feelings, communicate with your local elected officials.

 

The future of the Nickel Plate rail line running from downtown Indianapolis north to Tipton should be known in the coming months.  Local government leaders must decide whether to move forward with a proposed trail along the line through Fishers and Noblesville.

As you may recall, the Indiana State Fair Train had been a reliable feature for more than 30 years.  The train would load up with passengers in downtown Fishers, head to the fairgrounds on the Nickel Plate Rail Line, then unload the fairgoers at 38th Street and Fall Creek in Indianapolis.  The train also brought people from the fairgrounds back to downtown Fishers.

Those excursions ended in 2016.  The Hoosier Heritage Port Authority commissioned an independent inspection of the train tracks between Fishers and the Indiana State Fairgrounds and determined the rail line to be unsafe, nixing the fair train last year.

At a meeting of the Port Authority in April, it was confirmed that there is no way an operator could be in place in time for a 2017 Indiana State Fair Train.  Therefore, for a second year in a row, there will be no fair train.

The entire outlook for the Nickel Plate changed dramatically in late February when officials from Fishers and Noblesville announced plans to convert the rails from 96th Street in Fishers north to Pleasant Street in Noblesville to a trail for walking, jogging and biking.  The proposed trail would be 9.2 miles and would cost an estimated $9.3 million.

There were 2 “listening sessions” shortly after the announcement, one in Fishers, the second in Noblesville.  The Fishers event offered no public testimony, just personal one-on-one discussions with city officials.  The second in Noblesville did provide the equivalent of a public hearing, and there were emotional pleas to keep the rail line going for the trains.

Another aspect of this is a Request for Proposals issued by the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, a body made up of appointees from the cities of Fishers and Noblesville, as well as Hamilton County…..providing oversight and maintenance of the line.   The Authority is taking these proposals to see what potential operators can do in restoring the rails and bringing train service back to the Nickel Plate.

Port Authority President Mike Obergfell was asked during a recent forum held at Hamilton Heights High School why the Authority is taking Requests for Proposals when the cities of Noblesville and Fishers have announced their intention to pursue a trail along the Nickel Plate.

Obergfell described conversations he had with the rail line owners (Fishers, Noblesville and Hamilton County) explaining that no one knows whether a proposal will come along to bring the rails up to safety standards and provide a viable set of rail services.  In other words, don’t make a final decision on the trail until it is known what possibilities are out there for train service.

Any new bidder would need to put a lot of money on the table, well into the millions, to repair and bring back the train service.  It’s not impossible, but a tall order.  Once the proposals are evaluated, we will know more.

 

Proposals are due by June 10th.  A decision is expected in July or August, depending on how detailed any interview process may be.

Another proposal has been kicked around providing for both a restored rail line and a trail along the Nickel Plate, side by side.  That would appear to be a solution everyone can support.  But there is a problem.

The rail line is too narrow in many stretches to allow enough room for both rail and trail.  In order to pursue a rail with trails proposal, local governments, through the Port Authority, would need to buy-up large plots of land along the rail line.

If owners don’t want to sell, government could threaten condemnation, forcibly taking the land.  Whether sold willingly or by condemnation, the price tag of a rails plus trails program would raise the price substantially.  Then the question would be, will taxpayers be willing to foot that large bill?

So, here’s how the situation stands.  Proposals are due soon for potential rail operators on the Nickel Plate, and the cities of Fishers and Noblesville, along with Hamilton County, appear to be moving forward with the trail plans, at least for now.

I have very mixed emotions about all this.  I took my daughters on the Fair Train in their younger years.  My wife and I have enjoyed the dinner excursions.  I understand that the Nickel Plate rail line is a big part of our history.  Preserving it does keep a part of our local history alive.

But local governments are faced with some stark choices.  I know many Fishers officials believe the trail proposal is transformative and will serve local residents for many years to come.  I do believe they would be open to a rail proposal if it is a transformative one that provides regular service drawing people to our area, and be an amenity for those living here.

I don’t know how this will end up, but I do know the following weeks and months will be crucial in how this all moves forward.  If you have strong feelings, communicate with your local elected officials.