Post by WeNeed3 on Jan 21, 2010 23:14:27 GMT -5
Federal regulators want to hear what residents affected by the merger of CN and the EJ&E railways have to say about train traffic.
The Canadian National Railway's controversial purchase of the smaller EJ&E was approved by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in late 2008.
Now, the STB is issuing questionnaires to 33 elected officials seeking input on noise, traffic delays, vibrations and street blockages.
The agency has hired an independent consultant to analyze the results and compare them with regular reports filed by CN it was required to as a result of the merger. The scrutiny will allow the board "to determine whether CN's compliance reports are accurate and complete," the STB said.
The action came after STB officials visited towns along the EJ&E, including Barrington and Aurora, which had opposed the merger.
CN officials said the move was not surprising and they would give the independent reviewers the same comprehensive information they are providing the STB with.
The EJ&E moves in a semicircle stretching from Waukegan to Gary, Ind., and avoiding the bottleneck trains experience going through Chicago. CN is moving freight trains off its inner-city tracks onto the "J" with the intent of speeding up freight travel through the region.
Not surprisingly, towns along the EJ&E fought the merger and those expecting to get less freight traffic supported it. Municipalities including Barrington have continued to fight the STB ruling in court and have stated they think CN's reports don't fully list problems.
"The oversight process offers a fair and transparent way to assure that the railroad fully complies with these conditions," STB Chairman Daniel Elliott III said.
The results will be available mid-February.
Towns receiving questionnaires include Elgin, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, West Chicago, Warrenville, Hawthorne Woods, Lake Zurich, Plainfield, Aurora, Naperville, Wayne, Bartlett, Barrington Hills, Barrington, Deer Park and Long Grove.
The Canadian National Railway's controversial purchase of the smaller EJ&E was approved by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in late 2008.
Now, the STB is issuing questionnaires to 33 elected officials seeking input on noise, traffic delays, vibrations and street blockages.
The agency has hired an independent consultant to analyze the results and compare them with regular reports filed by CN it was required to as a result of the merger. The scrutiny will allow the board "to determine whether CN's compliance reports are accurate and complete," the STB said.
The action came after STB officials visited towns along the EJ&E, including Barrington and Aurora, which had opposed the merger.
CN officials said the move was not surprising and they would give the independent reviewers the same comprehensive information they are providing the STB with.
The EJ&E moves in a semicircle stretching from Waukegan to Gary, Ind., and avoiding the bottleneck trains experience going through Chicago. CN is moving freight trains off its inner-city tracks onto the "J" with the intent of speeding up freight travel through the region.
Not surprisingly, towns along the EJ&E fought the merger and those expecting to get less freight traffic supported it. Municipalities including Barrington have continued to fight the STB ruling in court and have stated they think CN's reports don't fully list problems.
"The oversight process offers a fair and transparent way to assure that the railroad fully complies with these conditions," STB Chairman Daniel Elliott III said.
The results will be available mid-February.
Towns receiving questionnaires include Elgin, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, West Chicago, Warrenville, Hawthorne Woods, Lake Zurich, Plainfield, Aurora, Naperville, Wayne, Bartlett, Barrington Hills, Barrington, Deer Park and Long Grove.