One thing became clear at Monday night’s Hoosier Heritage Port Authority meeting – the future of the Nickel Plate Rail Line will not be decided anytime soon.  A fifth proposal from Iowa Pacific was originally rejected as late filed, but documentation was provided showing a snafu in filing the paperwork at the courthouse.

The first four proposals have been scored and the Iowa Pacific proposal now must be scored.  The Authority will conduct a special meeting Tuesday, July 18th, at 5:30pm, releasing the scores of all five proposals received.

Authority President Mike Obergfell says once the scoring is completed and the Authority approves it, the proposals will go the the owners of the line for final approval.  The owners include Hamilton County as well as the cities of Noblesville & Fishers.

That means we are at least weeks, maybe longer, from a final decision on the future of the Nickel Plate Line.

Fishers and Noblesville have announced plans to create a trail along the rail line from 96th Street north to Pleasant Street in Noblesville.  The Authority sent out requests for proposals so that all the options on the future use of the rail line can be considered.

Meanwhile, the Indiana Transportation Museum has filed a request for a restraining order from the federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals allowing them to run the Indiana State Fair Train between Fishers and the state fairgrounds this year.  A decision by the court is expected within 10 days.