Michigan City is surrounded by excellent and accessible transportation assets, whether by road, rail, air or water. Located in Indiana but just 58 miles from Chicago, Michigan City is perfectly positioned to provide timely service to both regional and national markets.

The Double Track NWI Project continues to move forward. The South Shore Link network will be upgraded with 16.9 miles of second tracks,
8 new platforms, including in Michigan City, and station improvements. The project is expected to reduce travel time between Michigan City and Millennium Park in Chicago as well as allow for more trains to operate. See how the project is on track.

Air

Airports

Indiana ranks seventh in the nation for air transportation with more than 500 airports. The Michigan City Municipal Airport was awarded Airport of the Year in 2007 by the Aviation Association of Indiana. The South Bend International Airport, located 30 miles to the east of Michigan City, is a 1000 acre, publicly-owned facility, and the second busiest in Indiana. The Porter County Regional Airport, with a 7000 ft. runway, is located 25 miles from Michigan City. Michigan City is also 25 miles from the Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana. Michigan City is within a short driving distance to Chicago Midway Airport (60 miles) and Chicago O’Hare Airport (80 miles).

Air Freight

Freight handling is offered through several certified carriers including Federal Express, United Parcel Service and Towne Air Freight. Towne Air Freight is a motor carrier specialist in the pickup and delivery of air freight, which operates out of the Michiana Regional Transportation Centers at the South Bend International Airport, which is one of the largest capacity air freight handling facilities in Indiana. Several freight forwarders maintain contracts with all domestic and I.A.T.A. airlines.

Rail

Rail Freight

Rail freight service is very important to providing economical transportation service to business and industry for the movement of raw materials and manufactured products. Freight service is provided by the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Freight Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railroad. In addition, CSX Transportation has a main line that passes through the city. The Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad provides switching and line haul service between South Bend and Chicago, and provides interline connections with all railroads in Chicago providing service to all national rail markets.

Chicago South Shore & South Bend Freight Railroad
219-214-4279
www.anacostia.com/railroads/css

CSX Transportation
877-744-7279
www.csx.com

Commuter Rail

Commuter rail service is provided by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. NICTD operates 40 commuter trains daily between South Bend, Michigan City and the downtown Chicago Loop. Commuter and passenger rail service to and from Michigan City, Ind., is provided by NICTD and AMTRAK.

In January 2021, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb announced nearly $173 million in federal funding that will allow construction to begin on the expansion of the South Shore rail line to a double track. The $491 million project will speed passenger rail service between Chicago and Michigan City.

Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD)
312-836-7000
www.nictd.com

AMTRAK
800-872-7245
www.amtrak.com

Ports & Highways

The Port of Indiana is an international seaport that is located only 15 miles west of Michigan City. The Port of Indiana – Burns Waterway Harbor handles vessels involved in shipping on the Great Lakes, as well as international shipping via the St. Lawrence Seaway. The facility handles approximately 6,000,000 tons of domestic bulk and general cargo per year and conveniently serves the Chicagoland area without the congestion and complications of Chicago harbors. Any deep draft freighter can navigate the St. Lawrence dock and turn around at the Port of Indiana, mostly without tug assistance.

The Port of Indiana is one part of a three-port system that offers 12-month access to the Inland Waterway System reaching 22 states and over 40 percent of the U.S. population. Major highway access provides a virtual network of interstate routes that reach more than half the nation’s population in a day. Indiana has one of the heaviest concentrations of rail routes in the country and ranks seventh in the nation for air transportation with more than 500 airports.

Classified as Foreign Trade Zone #152, The International Port at Burns Harbor allows shippers to take advantage of duty-free storage, repackaging and assembly for imports and exports.

The International Port at Burns Harbor
219-787-8636
www.portsofindiana.com/poi/burnsharbor

Interstate Highways

Michigan City is surrounded by an excellent highway transportation system that provides timely and accessible service to regional and national markets. In fact, a national interstate highway is located less than two miles south of our prime industrial development land. A network of modern expressways, including the Indiana Toll Road and Interstates 65, 80, and 94, serves our area.

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