Post by title1parent on Apr 2, 2008 6:14:40 GMT -5
Aurora, Naperville seek to keep rail line from buyout
By Justin Kmitch and Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 4/2/2008 12:14 AM
In two separate boardrooms in neighboring communities, allies plotted Tuesday night, and pledged several thousands of dollars to prevent Canadian National's proposed buy-out of the EJ&E rail line.
Aurora officials, though at a committee of the whole meeting, pledged as much as $15,000 to the fight while Naperville earmarked $10,000 for lobbyist expenses to represent the city's and region's concerns and opposing the sale.
If CN were successful, the $300 million buyout of the track, which runs in an arc from Waukegan to Gary, IN. would become a bypass route for CN freight trains.
It would also likely end any possibilities of the long-proposed STAR Line.
Aurora Chief of Staff Bill Wiet said he and other city officials attended a meeting on the acquisition last month hosted by DuPage County.
More than 100 representatives from surrounding municipalities attended and another meeting was scheduled for April 11 to discuss the formation of a new coalition organization, its community breakdown and a cost-sharing plan to finance the fight.
"We would like to have a resolution at Tuesday's city council meeting that would support the participation in the full coalition and provide up to $15,000," Wiet said. "We don't know what the amount will be, but we know numbers like that have been thrown out, whether its based on population, grade crossings or just municipalities.
"We thought going into this having approvals and being ready would make the process go faster and lead to a lot more participation from the city of Aurora in this process."
Ninth Ward Alderman Leroy Keith argued the city should be involved as soon as possible so that officials can weigh in on any environmental impact studies that may be under way.
"We want to make sure that all of the municipalities have all of the data ready to go and that we're not waiting until the environmental impact study is put in front of us," Keith said. "I don't mean to stir trouble or cause the residents of the area to get in an uproar but they made no bones about it that if CN does buy the line, that's the end of the STAR Line. There's just not enough right of way there to put in the tracks necessary for a commuter train to go there. That needs to weigh heavily on the decision of the Service Transportation Board when they consider it."
The STAR Line, as proposed, would take riders down the Northwest Tollway, I-90, then near Hoffman Estates head south to Joliet along the EJ&E tracks. It would link about 100 communities and connect with O'Hare International Airport. Uncertain funding has pushed the project at least a decade back.
Wiet said Aurora might also be considering more localized efforts as well, whether it is Aurora as a single community or with municipal neighbors forming a more local effort.
"We want to be up there in front, either helping lead the charge against the acquisition or providing for mitigation," he said. "And I think this is a good start and we may be coming back with another plan to provide more localized efforts."
To that end, Naperville also decided Tuesday to take on whatever costs Councilman Darlene Senger incurs as the city's representative in dealing with the issue.
By Justin Kmitch and Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 4/2/2008 12:14 AM
In two separate boardrooms in neighboring communities, allies plotted Tuesday night, and pledged several thousands of dollars to prevent Canadian National's proposed buy-out of the EJ&E rail line.
Aurora officials, though at a committee of the whole meeting, pledged as much as $15,000 to the fight while Naperville earmarked $10,000 for lobbyist expenses to represent the city's and region's concerns and opposing the sale.
If CN were successful, the $300 million buyout of the track, which runs in an arc from Waukegan to Gary, IN. would become a bypass route for CN freight trains.
It would also likely end any possibilities of the long-proposed STAR Line.
Aurora Chief of Staff Bill Wiet said he and other city officials attended a meeting on the acquisition last month hosted by DuPage County.
More than 100 representatives from surrounding municipalities attended and another meeting was scheduled for April 11 to discuss the formation of a new coalition organization, its community breakdown and a cost-sharing plan to finance the fight.
"We would like to have a resolution at Tuesday's city council meeting that would support the participation in the full coalition and provide up to $15,000," Wiet said. "We don't know what the amount will be, but we know numbers like that have been thrown out, whether its based on population, grade crossings or just municipalities.
"We thought going into this having approvals and being ready would make the process go faster and lead to a lot more participation from the city of Aurora in this process."
Ninth Ward Alderman Leroy Keith argued the city should be involved as soon as possible so that officials can weigh in on any environmental impact studies that may be under way.
"We want to make sure that all of the municipalities have all of the data ready to go and that we're not waiting until the environmental impact study is put in front of us," Keith said. "I don't mean to stir trouble or cause the residents of the area to get in an uproar but they made no bones about it that if CN does buy the line, that's the end of the STAR Line. There's just not enough right of way there to put in the tracks necessary for a commuter train to go there. That needs to weigh heavily on the decision of the Service Transportation Board when they consider it."
The STAR Line, as proposed, would take riders down the Northwest Tollway, I-90, then near Hoffman Estates head south to Joliet along the EJ&E tracks. It would link about 100 communities and connect with O'Hare International Airport. Uncertain funding has pushed the project at least a decade back.
Wiet said Aurora might also be considering more localized efforts as well, whether it is Aurora as a single community or with municipal neighbors forming a more local effort.
"We want to be up there in front, either helping lead the charge against the acquisition or providing for mitigation," he said. "And I think this is a good start and we may be coming back with another plan to provide more localized efforts."
To that end, Naperville also decided Tuesday to take on whatever costs Councilman Darlene Senger incurs as the city's representative in dealing with the issue.
