Post by title1parent on May 20, 2008 5:49:57 GMT -5
Obama speaks against EJ&E
Senator vows to support communities
May 20, 2008
By ANDRE SALLES The Beacon News
The proposed sale of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad to Canadian National Railway Company continues to draw controversy, with Sen. Barack Obama joining in the discussion.
In a letter to Barrington Village President Karen Darch, Obama expressed his concerns over the planned sale, which would see Canadian National diverting many of its trains from Chicago to tracks running through the suburbs. In some cases, the number of trains running through suburban areas could quadruple if the move is approved.
Before the $300 million sale can go through, it must be approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board. That board is in the midst of a study to determine the impact of the sale on affected communities.
"I am opposed to this merger as currently proposed," Obama wrote, "and will work with affected communities to make certain their views are considered as a part of the Surface Transportation Board process."
In his letter, Obama said he is "seriously concerned" about the effects of traffic backups and increased safety hazards on suburban communities. He mentioned Metra's proposed STAR line, a suburb-to-suburb rail service still on the drawing board. While Canadian National has pledged to work with Metra on the STAR line, many of the sale's detractors believe the increased traffic along the EJ&E line would make Metra's plan difficult, if not impossible.
Perhaps most notably, Obama suggested that Canadian National should be responsible for the lion's share of the infrastructure improvements needed for the increased freight traffic along the EJ&E line.
"The costs associated with any infrastructure improvements required by this increased freight traffic should be largely borne by CN, and any merger should reflect a solid commitment by the new owners to pay for these improvements," Obama wrote.
Obama's office has been providing these letters to interested parties for some time, and on May 2, Canadian National CEO Hunter Harrison sent the senator a response. Harrison wrote that the railway company has been meeting with local governments to work out agreements for grade separations and other infrastructure improvements, which he believes work best as shared expenses.
"This is particularly so, the (Surface Transportation) Board indicates, as it pertains to costly measures such as grade-separated crossings that primarily benefit the community rather than the railroad ...," Harrison wrote.
Sun-Times News Group
Senator vows to support communities
May 20, 2008
By ANDRE SALLES The Beacon News
The proposed sale of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad to Canadian National Railway Company continues to draw controversy, with Sen. Barack Obama joining in the discussion.
In a letter to Barrington Village President Karen Darch, Obama expressed his concerns over the planned sale, which would see Canadian National diverting many of its trains from Chicago to tracks running through the suburbs. In some cases, the number of trains running through suburban areas could quadruple if the move is approved.
Before the $300 million sale can go through, it must be approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board. That board is in the midst of a study to determine the impact of the sale on affected communities.
"I am opposed to this merger as currently proposed," Obama wrote, "and will work with affected communities to make certain their views are considered as a part of the Surface Transportation Board process."
In his letter, Obama said he is "seriously concerned" about the effects of traffic backups and increased safety hazards on suburban communities. He mentioned Metra's proposed STAR line, a suburb-to-suburb rail service still on the drawing board. While Canadian National has pledged to work with Metra on the STAR line, many of the sale's detractors believe the increased traffic along the EJ&E line would make Metra's plan difficult, if not impossible.
Perhaps most notably, Obama suggested that Canadian National should be responsible for the lion's share of the infrastructure improvements needed for the increased freight traffic along the EJ&E line.
"The costs associated with any infrastructure improvements required by this increased freight traffic should be largely borne by CN, and any merger should reflect a solid commitment by the new owners to pay for these improvements," Obama wrote.
Obama's office has been providing these letters to interested parties for some time, and on May 2, Canadian National CEO Hunter Harrison sent the senator a response. Harrison wrote that the railway company has been meeting with local governments to work out agreements for grade separations and other infrastructure improvements, which he believes work best as shared expenses.
"This is particularly so, the (Surface Transportation) Board indicates, as it pertains to costly measures such as grade-separated crossings that primarily benefit the community rather than the railroad ...," Harrison wrote.
Sun-Times News Group
