Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District trustees could vote Friday on the closure of the South Shore's Miller station to make way for a new $120 million Gary Gateway station.

The station closure and Gateway station are on the agenda for the board of trustee's 10 a.m. meeting at NICTD headquarters at the Dune Park Station, 33 E. U.S. 12, Chesterton, according to John Parsons, NICTD marketing and planning director.

The trustees could vote after discussing the matter or decide to study it further, Parsons said. The Miller station would not close until the new Gateway station is opened in 2011.

Residents and business groups from Miller will be showing up at the meeting, according to Gene Ayers, of the Miller Citizens Corp.

They remain opposed to the closure of the Miller stop, Ayers said. He was surprised by how many people from other communities at a July 8 public hearing also opposed the closure.

"I knew there were a lot of riders who didn't come from Miller, but I was surprised at how many showed up," Ayers said. "That shows their vehemence on this issue."

More than 300 people attended the hearing. Many spoke against the proposal but others spoke in favor.

NICTD has received more than 1,800 written comments for and against closing the Miller station and building the Gateway station, Parsons said.

That is the most public comment NICTD ever has received on any issue in recent history, Parsons said.

The Gateway station is being promoted by Gateway Partners LLC, which says the new station would spark an economic rebirth in downtown Gary. It would include 1,500-space and 500-space parking garages, as well as retail shops and eateries.

Gateway Partners partner Vance Kenney told people at the July 8 public hearing that the Miller stop would have to be closed in order to make the downtown Gary project financially viable.

About 504 people per day use the Miller station and about 614 use the current downtown Gary Metro Center station, according to NICTD figures.