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Post by wvhsparent on Mar 6, 2008 13:56:56 GMT -5
An extra 40 mil...doubt that would cover even 1 over/underpass
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Post by gman413 on Mar 6, 2008 14:51:25 GMT -5
I appreciate Dick Durbin and Melissa Beans' efforts, but we all know what happens when big business gets involved. We're screwed. I don't know about Ms. Bean but I wouldn't trust Dick Durbin to be looking out for our best interests. |
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Post by gman413 on Mar 6, 2008 14:55:32 GMT -5
Alternatives such as building a shadow line along Union Pacific tracks to the west that meet up the Canadian National tracks northwest of Wayne is one possibility. . It seems like a railroad always has the option of laying more track as workaround. I sure am happy about the slowing down and the firm stance of the Park District. Lets assume, though, that this is a bump in the road and not a showstopper roadblock. Let me throw this out : maybe this one acre parcel is a good bargaining chip we the public hold in our hands that might force more CN cooperation and funding for some new overpasses along this route? I'd hate to see FP district land ever used as a bargaining chip. We all need to stay on top of our elected officials to ensure they do what they can to prevent the sale (best case) or get funding for necessary crossing accommodations (worst case) from somewhere other than OUR pockets. |
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Post by momto4 on Mar 8, 2008 14:10:59 GMT -5
I received another mailing today from the STB. This time it is a postcard. It's short, so rather than scan I'll just type it. I'd appreciate if someone would post this on the other board.
February 2008
Project Update
Thank you for participating in the Surface Transportation Board's scoping process for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Canadian National Railway's proposed acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern Railway. During the scoping period, we received approximately 3000 comments from the public and we are currently working to fully consider them in the Final Scope of Study for the EIS. Once completed, the Final Scope of Study will be available to the public and the Board will proceed with preparing the draft EIS. The Draft EIS will be made available to the public for review.
For more information, please visit the Board's website (www.stb.dot.gov) and look for Key Cases under Environmental Matters.
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Post by gatormom on Mar 9, 2008 7:49:41 GMT -5
Officials urge residents to speak out on EJ&E
Railroad sale top concern for NAHC
March 9, 2008
By Hank Beckman Special to The Sun
Naperville Sun
Judy Biggert has an invitation for the chairman of the National Transportation and Safety Board.
Speaking of the proposed purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway by the Canadian National Railway, Biggert, R-13th District, had a simple request: "Come ride the rails with us."
Biggert joined city, county and state officials Saturday at the monthly meeting of the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation.
While the meeting focused on the city's entire legislative agenda, most present had the EJ&E sale at the top of their concerns.
The EJ&E runs around the Chicago area, beginning in Waukegan, heading south through the western suburbs - along Naperville's western boundary - and turning east into Indiana before it heads north to the Loop area.
Because Canadian National could triple the number of freight trains along the route, suburbs all over the Chicago area are concerned about quality-of-life and environmental issues.
Other sticking points are traffic delays, the cost of updating rail crossings and the danger to a future Metra STAR commuter line.
The proposed commuter rail would run from Joliet to O'Hare Airport. Because it would use some of the EJ&E's tracks and involve rail rights that would go to Canadian National, the deal would put the STAR Line in jeopardy.
"It's a very serious problem," Biggert said. "I don't think Canadian National has been very cooperative."
State Sen. Randy Hultgren spoke of north-south travel in general, talking about the difficulty in travel on Route 59.
"The EJ&E purchase might make it worse," Hultgren said.
DuPage County Board member Jim Healy urged citizens to keep the pressure on elected officials.
"When we had the issue of EJ&E come up, we went to the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation," Healy said. "When things happen, they're going to happen fast."
Healy estimated the deal probably wouldn't be finalized until next year.
State Rep. James Meyer told the group not to be shy.
"Write to me, but don't be afraid to write to other state representatives or senators ... write to the governor."
Biggert said Illinois also was in danger of losing as much as 80 percent of the transportation money it received from the federal government because of the state's inability to come up with the 20 percent matching funds required.
Healy said the loss of the transportation funds - along with proposals by some to limit the amount of the recent quarter-cent sales tax hike going to transportation - could affect Naperville in several ways.
The expansion of Route 59 could be threatened, along with the proposed Eola Road interchange on Route 88.
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Post by title1parent on Mar 10, 2008 4:23:05 GMT -5
Federal funds sought to separate grade crossings
Officials want lobbyist for EJ&E sale
March 10, 2008
By Paige Winfield pwinfield@scn1.com
As DuPage County officials anticipate more traffic congestion after the likely sale of the EJ&E railroad, they are hoping some federal dollars can at least soften the blow.
County Board members Jim Healy of Naperville and Pam Rion of Bloomingdale met Friday with nearly 100 area officials from the collar counties and Indiana to discuss the possible purchase of the rail line by Canadian National Railroad. Currently under review by the Surface Transportation Board, the sale would result in up to a 400 percent increase in rail traffic in the region.
In DuPage County, 21 grade crossings would be affected by the sale. Members of the county's legislative committee hope that at least some of those crossings can be separated, using federal money obtained with the help of a new lobbyist.
Although most crossings will cost an average of $30 million to $35 million to separate, Ogden Avenue will require closer to $80 million, Healy said. He said that crossing, and one at Stearns Road, are the first crossings that need to be separated.
"Ogden Avenue is the No. 1 at-grade crossing for EJ&E," Healy said. "Over 50,000 cars cross that track a day. That's a phenomenal amount."
Healy said that after Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin and other elected officials expressed strong opposition to the sale last week, leaders in the collar counties were encouraged to keeping fighting the acquisition. Discussions about hiring a shared federal lobbyist are ongoing, he said.
"This is a very energized group ... there is very much an interest on this thing," Healy said. "Hopefully at our next meeting we'll say we'll all chip in the pot and we'll each pay a portion of the share (for a lobbyist)."
Brien Sheahan, chairman of the legislative committee, said he believes the county should hire an EJ&E lobbyist to address the "serious implications" the sale poses for western DuPage County.
"The thought is to hire a lobbyist to work with the Justice Department and federal transportation authorities to help get resources to address the problems created by the at-grade crossings," Sheahan said.
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Post by JWH on Mar 10, 2008 7:44:07 GMT -5
If this sale can't be blocked (the more I read, it kind of seems that way) we need people like this demanding infrastructure improvements.
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sushi
Master Member 
Posts: 767
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Post by sushi on Mar 10, 2008 17:49:22 GMT -5
we all know what happens when big business gets involved. We're screwed. |
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Post by gman413 on Mar 21, 2008 10:42:16 GMT -5
Wanted to throw this up in case not everyone monitors both boards... One thing that needs to be clarified is not only the number of extra trains but the actual increase in train CARS that would come with this. I've heard some of the CN trains can be 8,000 feet long. If one of those suckers gets stalled, we could be looking at major traffic nightmares -- plus it seems it would take a long time for one of those to cross even in optimal conditions. In fact, CN might try minimizing the number of trains to help its case, and by just adding more cars to each train they can achieve a bit of deception. For example, instead of 40 trains with 400 cars each, maybe they can configure it to 20 trains at 800 cars each. That way, they can claim the increase in trains would only be 5 (from the current 15), even though the number of actual train cars is enormously increased. This is a good point and should be followed. If every town affected by this demanded that all or even most at grade crossings had to be altered this would, I'd bet, make it impossible for CN. Unfortunately I don't see this happening. My fear is if any one town buckles and agrees to put up $$$ to alter any at grade crossings, does this start a domino effect for all other towns? Also, for what it's worth, since I know Durbin's trying to make it look like he's on top of this, I checked Judy Biggert's site for info. On 3/10 she sent a letter to the STB chair requesting a meeting to go over all the negatives of this deal. I've asked that she keep us apprised of these communications. We'll see what happens... |
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Mar 26, 2008 7:14:36 GMT -5
Will County Board votes to oppose EJ&E sale
March 26, 2008
By STEWART WARREN The Herald News
JOLIET -- The Will County Board is against the Canadian National Railway's purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway, and they want everyone to know it.
CN wants to buy the 198-mile EJ&E line so it can route trains away from Chicago. The EJ&E owns train tracks stretching from Waukegan to Gary, Ind., that pass through several Will County towns. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board must approve the sale before it can happen.
But Will County residents have worried about the sale, citing increased train traffic, the accompanying traffic tie-ups on area roads, the county's many at-grade rail crossings and the transportation of hazardous materials, among other things.
The surface transportation board is doing an environmental study to determine how the sale might affect the communities surrounding the EJ&E's tracks.
During their regular meeting Thursday, the Will County Board members voted to approve a resolution opposing the transaction.
During earlier meetings, the members seemed concerned about the sale but reluctant to fight it.
"(Board members thought) we may as well just go along with it and ask the CN for what we need," said board Chairman Jim Moustis, R-Frankfort.
But after a meeting with representatives from DuPage, Cook, Lake and other counties who also object to the sale, the Will County contingent had a change of heart.
The CN won't pay for expensive infrastructure improvements such as viaducts to alleviate problems from increased train traffic, Moustis said.
And the company hasn't explained how the sale could affect Metra's proposed STAR passenger line or some Amtrak service, he added.
Sun-Times News Group
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Post by gman413 on Mar 26, 2008 9:22:24 GMT -5
Will County Board votes to oppose EJ&E saleMarch 26, 2008 By STEWART WARREN The Herald News JOLIET -- The Will County Board is against the Canadian National Railway's purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway, and they want everyone to know it. CN wants to buy the 198-mile EJ&E line so it can route trains away from Chicago. The EJ&E owns train tracks stretching from Waukegan to Gary, Ind., that pass through several Will County towns. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board must approve the sale before it can happen. But Will County residents have worried about the sale, citing increased train traffic, the accompanying traffic tie-ups on area roads, the county's many at-grade rail crossings and the transportation of hazardous materials, among other things. The surface transportation board is doing an environmental study to determine how the sale might affect the communities surrounding the EJ&E's tracks. During their regular meeting Thursday, the Will County Board members voted to approve a resolution opposing the transaction. During earlier meetings, the members seemed concerned about the sale but reluctant to fight it. "(Board members thought) we may as well just go along with it and ask the CN for what we need," said board Chairman Jim Moustis, R-Frankfort. But after a meeting with representatives from DuPage, Cook, Lake and other counties who also object to the sale, the Will County contingent had a change of heart. The CN won't pay for expensive infrastructure improvements such as viaducts to alleviate problems from increased train traffic, Moustis said. And the company hasn't explained how the sale could affect Metra's proposed STAR passenger line or some Amtrak service, he added. Sun-Times News Group This is good news hopefully. However, I talked to someone high up in the Will County GOP organization on Sunday and he said, in not so many words, "people can oppose the CN purchase all they want, I don't think it'll stop it from happening". Let's remain optimistic. |
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