www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=369754&src=76State outlines Aurora crossing options
By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald
Whether it be an over or underpass, Canadian National is on the hook for a new grade separation at the Route 34 crossing located between Long Grove Drive and Meadow Lakes Boulevard in Aurora.
Tuesday evening, Illinois Department of Transportation engineers kicked off the first of the project's three phases by introducing the project to the public and letting them sound off on it.
As a condition of approving Canadian National's 2008 purchase of the smaller EJ&E, the Surface Transportation Board required CN to fund 67 percent of the estimated $75 million in construction costs associated with the grade separation either over or under the railroad lines. The Illinois Department of Transportation is responsible for the other 33 percent of the costs.
While Canadian National has appealed the percentage they are responsible to pay in federal courts, IDOT has initiated the design of the improvement independent of the court's ruling, which is expected this summer, in order to keep the project on track for the mandated start of construction in 2014.
The merger will ease freight congestion in Chicago by moving trains from CN's crowded tracks to the underused EJ&E, Canadian National argued and the STB agreed. The decision angered towns along the EJ&E that feared extra trains would lead to more noise, safety problems, traffic and environmental issues. This crossing alone is expected to increase from 12 trains daily to as many as 40.
Project Engineer Jessica Feliciano said the costs and time associated with moving the various utilities, including electric and gas will weigh heavily on whether Ogden Avenue ends up above or under the rail lines in 2016, the earliest either project would be complete. Public opinions, she said, will also factor in.
"As far as us going over or under, we don't have a preference. Right now we can't have a preference, this is too early on," she said. "But we're looking at the environmental issues in the area to see if there's anything sensitive and we'll look at project costs and public opinion."
Residents Tom and Annie Moore live about three miles from the crossing but said the noise and traffic congestion from the 36,000 cars on Ogden Avenue daily are already a problem.
"We want the overpass because the information says that can be done quickly and with less impact," Annie Moore said. "If this has to be done, I'd like to see it done quick and without inconveniencing anyone."
Kevin Diana lives west of the tracks and said he has to cross them to go anywhere. He's favoring an underpass because he believes if is more safe and would disrupt less traffic.
"We didn't ask for this. We didn't ask for CN to come in and run 40 trains through here a day so let them pay to raise the tracks," he said. "And the under pass is more safe, especially in icy or wet conditions. If they build an overpass, you're going to have cars sliding everywhere."
Feliciano said that kind of dialogue is exactly what engineers are seeking at this phase.
"It's good that a lot of people have ideas already," she said. "That helps us."
Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner also was impressed with the turnout and input given by residents.
"This is a good first step to ensure CN follows through and does what they're supposed to," he said. "And it's a good sign to see so many people in attendance."
More public meetings are scheduled for the summer and fall before a preferred alternative is announced in the winter of 2011. From 2011-2013, final designs will be created and necessary land will be acquired to allow construction to start in 2014.
After April 7, residents can view and direct comments to the project's Web site at ogdenRRstudy.com.