Board approves $480,250 CIB allocation and Lochmuller agreement for Downtown Hammond station "kiss-and-ride" design

The Hammond Board of Public Safety approved a $480,250 allocation from the city's Capital Improvement Board (CIB) and an agreement with Lochmuller Group to design a "kiss-and-ride" approach to the new Downtown Hammond Station.

During the meeting, a representative described the design work as reconstructing Russell Street from Oakley to the new station and extending the roadway north toward Fayette to create a circular drop-off and pick-up route for passengers. The project is a federal-aid project funded by the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and is slated for construction in 2027–28, which requires environmental documentation and right-of-way and land-acquisition work as part of the design phase.

A representative from Lochmuller was present at the meeting; the board voted to approve both the funding allocation and the professional-services agreement. The board recorded the approval with members responding "aye" on the motion. The consultant will proceed with design work and begin the processes required for federal-aid projects, including environmental review and property acquisition as needed.