About $16 million annually will have to be committed locally for the life of the project to qualify it for the 50 percent match from the New Starts program.

Visclosky, D-Indiana, has led the push for the extension, personally lobbying local officials across the region.

The 8-mile extension would run on the Monon Corridor, an abandoned railroad right-of-way. Construction could start in 2020.

On Monday, the Munster Town Council voted unanimously to commit 34 percent of its receipts from the county economic development income tax to funding the South Shore expansion.

Lake County has carved out $2 million for the South Shore extension in its plan for its share of the county economic development income tax, Hanna said. No new taxes or tax increases will be needed because the money for the extension can all be raised from the RDA, existing tax receipts, and the New Starts program, he said.

The RDA board also voted 7-0 on Friday to contribute up to $1 million to perform an environmental impact study of the proposed route. South Shore operator Northern Indiana Commuter District will provide up to $1.9 million for that study.