Post by title1parent on May 23, 2008 6:02:37 GMT -5
Biggert: Keep transportation program money from railroad companies
May 23, 2008 Sun
While discussing the proposed purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway by Canadian National Railway last week, U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Hinsdale, called on elected officials to revisit the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program.
Originally, CREATE was to be a $1.5 billion public/private partnership to fund capital improvements on the region's rail infrastructure. Eighty-five percent of the funds were to come from federal, state and local government, including the city of Chicago. "Now, you may not be shocked when I tell you that the state of Illinois has yet to come up with its $100 million, or even a fraction of that," Biggert said. "Nor has the city of Chicago contributed its $30 million."
During a briefing May 16 before the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Biggert suggested officials rethink how and where the federal money is spent. Of the money contributed so far, most would be spent on projects aimed at improving the efficiency of railroad operations rather than grade separations or other mitigation efforts, she said.
"If railroads like CN are going to insist on paying for only 5 to 10 percent of the cost of mitigation and grade separations, then we should make sure that the public contribution to CREATE will benefit communities first, Metra second and railroad companies last," Biggert said. "And more importantly, we must examine where this CREATE money will be spent. In the current three-year plan for CREATE, you'd be hard-pressed to find a project outside of Cook County or Chicago. While the 'C' in CREATE does stand for 'Chicago,' the 'R' stands for 'Region.'"
-- Kathy Cichon
May 23, 2008 Sun
While discussing the proposed purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway by Canadian National Railway last week, U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Hinsdale, called on elected officials to revisit the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program.
Originally, CREATE was to be a $1.5 billion public/private partnership to fund capital improvements on the region's rail infrastructure. Eighty-five percent of the funds were to come from federal, state and local government, including the city of Chicago. "Now, you may not be shocked when I tell you that the state of Illinois has yet to come up with its $100 million, or even a fraction of that," Biggert said. "Nor has the city of Chicago contributed its $30 million."
During a briefing May 16 before the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Biggert suggested officials rethink how and where the federal money is spent. Of the money contributed so far, most would be spent on projects aimed at improving the efficiency of railroad operations rather than grade separations or other mitigation efforts, she said.
"If railroads like CN are going to insist on paying for only 5 to 10 percent of the cost of mitigation and grade separations, then we should make sure that the public contribution to CREATE will benefit communities first, Metra second and railroad companies last," Biggert said. "And more importantly, we must examine where this CREATE money will be spent. In the current three-year plan for CREATE, you'd be hard-pressed to find a project outside of Cook County or Chicago. While the 'C' in CREATE does stand for 'Chicago,' the 'R' stands for 'Region.'"
-- Kathy Cichon