EJ&E sale could mean more traffic woesNumber of trains in area could nearly triple if deal approved
February 1, 2008
By KATHY CICHON Staff Writer
Naperville residents and officials increasingly are concerned about a Canadian National Railway proposal to buy the 118-year-old EJ&E line for $300 million.
Should the sale go through, train traffic in the area is expected to nearly triple from 15.7 trains per day to 42.3 trains - nearly two trains an hour.
» Click to enlarge image A freight train sits on the EJ&E tracks off of 111th street. In the Naperville area, 15 intersections cross the EJ&E and of those, only five either go over or under the tracks.
(Brian Powers/Staff photographer)
RELATED STORIES• More time for public comment
RELATED PDF• Railroad crossing locations
IF YOU GO
Who: City of Naperville will host a public open house on the proposed acquisition of the EJ&E Railroad by Canadian National Railroad.
What: The goal is to inform residents about the proposed acquisition; the processes involved; possible impacts; the actions city staff has been taking to address potential issues; and to provide residents with the opportunity to express their concerns.
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13
Where: City Council Chambers of the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.
On the Web:
www.naperville.il.us/eje.aspx In the Naperville area, 15 intersections cross the EJ&E. Of those, only five are grade-separated - meaning they either go over or under the tracks. And those are all north of Ogden Avenue.
That means more waiting for trains, and more traffic backups.
And with the populations of newer subdivisions on the city's south side growing, along with new growth in Plainfield, extra cars will be on the roads anyway.
"There will be more traffic increases as it is," said Steve Cope, transportation and traffic operations manager with Naperville.
The most heavily-traveled at-grade crossing - one you have to cross - in the area is Ogden Avenue, according to 2005 data from Illinois Department of Transportation and the city of Naperville. The 2005 figures show 34,100 vehicles cross the intersection each day; now that number is estimated at 45,000, Cope said.
Crossing tracks
Residents had wanted a way under or over the tracks even before the EJ&E proposal.
"I would love it if the city of Naperville could get an overpass over Ogden," Naperville resident Becky Barnhart said. "Just to have at least one would help our city tremendously, and the cities of Plainfield and Aurora."
The city does have a plan for a grade-separated crossing at 95th Street.
"The (traffic) volume of 95th Street is in the vicinity of 12,000 to 15,000 a day," Cope said. "We can expect traffic to increase as 95th becomes a direct link between Route 30 and 59."
The proposal came before Canadian National announced in the fall that it wants to buy the EJ&E line, pending approval from the federal Surface Transportation Board. The Montreal-based company wants the 198-mile EJ&E so it can re-route traffic around congested tracks in Chicago. The line, which stretches from Waukegan in the north to Gary, Ind., in the east, passes through Naperville and several neighboring communities.
E. Hunter Harrison, president and chief executive officer of CN, said in a statement the company wants to make the sale work for all parties - especially the communities the line passes through.
"We are ready to work with communities, and in turn, hope for their cooperation to achieve a timely review of this proposed transaction," Harrison said in the statement.
Metea ValleyAnother factor to consider is District 204's Metea Valley High School set for Eola and Molitor roads in Aurora.
"Two high schools are now going to be on the west side (of the tracks) and one on the east side," Barnhart said. "A lot of kids are going to be needing to cross these tracks every day."
This week District 204 announced its official opposition to the purchase of the EJ&E by Canadian National.
"Increased traffic is never a good thing, and it will certainly slow down the transportation of our kids throughout the school district," said Jay Strang, director of building operations for District 204.
On Wednesday, the district sent an E-news notification alerting residents of the possible sale.
"The district does not see any benefit to the community from the proposed increase in railroad traffic," the e-mail said.
The district has filed a letter stating its "firm opposition" to the purchase; Wednesday's e-mail provided contact information for the STB so residents could file their own comments.
Implementation
Traffic increases and possible improvements to crossings are just two of the many factors that will be studied by the Surface Transportation Board throughout the environmental review process. While some areas around the tracks are likely to be impacted, the project has benefits for the overall region, Canadian National said.
"CN is seeking a constructive dialogue with key stakeholders to find practical means of implementing the transaction in ways that balance the specific needs of communities with the Chicagoland's need for a cleaner, safer environment and a more efficient rail transportation network," Harrison said in the statement. "The merits of our EJ&E transaction are compelling - compelling for commerce, transportation efficiency and the environment of the greater Chicago region."
But some residents say improvements in Chicago should not come at a cost to its suburbs.
"I think it's seen as something that would help the city of Chicago," Barnhart said. "There's a reason we live in the suburbs - that's so we don't have the congestion of the city."
If the purchase is approved, the implementation of CN's plan will happen during a three-year period, said Jim Kvedaras, senior manager of U.S. government and public affairs for Canadian Railway, making it a gradual rather than "rash, overnight" change. At this time, Canadian National doesn't have a full operation plan to show when the trains would be running, he said.
"I'm asked about this all the time," Kvedaras said. "We do have to operate 24/7."
While the railroad does have schedules for its customers that include when pickups and deliveries occur, trains are not "down-to-the-minute scheduling," he said. Canadian will have to work with Metra to coordinate for commuter train traffic.
"Outside of that, I don't have a better way of pinning down as to when or when not to expect a train," Kvedaras said.
In an effort to reduce the traffic backup at the crossings, it is CN's goal to work as close to track speed as it can, he said.
"Coming through at closer to 40 to 45 mph (can) minimize the time we have the trains at the crossings," Kvedaras said.
Contact Kathy Cichon at kcichon@scn1.com or 630-416-5114.
