CHESTERTON, Ind. (AP) — Expanding the capacity of the South Shore rail commuter line is the key to a plan aimed at improving the Chicago commute from northern Indiana.

The Post-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/14kWaW8 ) the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District board Friday approved a $550,000 contract for a plan to be developed jointly with the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. The two groups will split the cost of the plan, which is expected to take about a year to complete.

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Authority chief Bill Hanna compared transit between Northwest Indiana and Chicago to the commute from New Jersey to New York City and called the line’s potential for generating revenue “unlimited.”