CHESTERTON, Ind. (AP): A northwestern Indiana development group has approved a plan to provide $8 million in funding per year to extend the South Shore commuter rail line to the Lake County town of Dyer.

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority's Friday vote for the funding marks the first time in its 9-year history the group has made a major step forward on its original mandate from lawmakers to extend the South Shore to Lake County's south suburbs.

The (Munster) Times reports that Chief Executive Bill Hanna says the group's commitment of $8 million per year will be used to pay off bonds expected to finance the $571 million project. That means the group's commitment could last for decades.

Construction of the 8-mile rail extension to Dyer could start in 2020.