The Kennedy Avenue Railroad Overpass Project (Project) would close an existing at-grade railroad crossing and replace it with an overpass (bridge) in the town of Schererville, Indiana. The proposed bridge on Kennedy Avenue would cross four tracks associated with the Wisconsin Central Limited/Canadian National and Norfolk Southern Railroads. Associated improvements include: widening 2,000 feet of the road from two to four lanes to improve traffic flow between Division Street and Scherland Drive, adjacent driveway and sidewalk improvements, relocation and replacement of water main and sewer force main pipelines (about 1,800-1,900 linear feet), drainage improvements including a stormwater detention basin, and floodway excavation in the Hartsdale Pond Basin and plantings to mitigate impacts to the Seberger Ditch floodway (also crossed by the proposed bridge).

The Project is necessary to reduce traffic congestion and delays on Kennedy Avenue due to stopped trains and to reduce the risk of motor vehicle accidents at the railroad crossing. The existing at-grade crossing is considered one of the worst in northwestern Indiana because it has caused substantial delays to travelers, including emergency service vehicles, and resulted in numerous rear-end crashes annually. The purpose of the Project is to create a grade-separated crossing of the railroad and to reduce roadway congestion and the risk of accidents.

The Town of Schererville, as the Project grantee, is receiving funding through FRA’s Fiscal Year 2023 Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program for construction of the Kennedy Avenue Railroad Overpass Project.

Finding of No Significant Impact (Adoption)

In 2021, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Kennedy Avenue Reconstruction Between US 30 and Main Street Project. FHWA signed its Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the project in July 2022. FRA became involved in the Project in 2023 when funding for the railroad crossing overpass (Phase 1 of the larger project described in the EA) was awarded to the Town of Schererville for construction of the overpass and associated improvements through the RCE Program. In March 2024, FRA designated FHWA as the lead Federal agency for the environmental review process, to oversee compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and applicable Federal laws. FRA was involved in INDOT and FHWA’s reevaluation of the Phase 1 portion of the FHWA project in 2024 to ensure the review covered FRA environmental requirements. INDOT and FHWA approved the reevaluation (additional investigation) documentation in September 2024. 

Relying on FHWA's evaluation as the lead Federal agency for the environmental review process, FRA has also met the requirements under the Clean Air Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, and related laws. The EA and reevaluation document provided detailed analysis for FRA to confirm that an Environmental Impact Statement was not necessary for the Project. FRA has affirmed the continued validity and relevance of the environmental documents. On October 21, 2024, FRA signed a FONSI adopting FHWA’s documentation, which is accessible via the link below.

• Finding of No Significant Impact

FRA Points of Contact

FRA NEPA Contact:
Brandon Bratcher, Environmental Protection Specialist 
Environment and Project Engineering Division
Federal Railroad Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
brandon.bratcher@dot.gov

Media Queries Contact:
Phone: 202-493-6024
Email: FRAPA@dot.gov