Post by title1parent on Jun 18, 2008 6:34:27 GMT -5
Key lawmaker has doubts on EJ&E sale
By Marni Pyke | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 6/18/2008 12:07 AM
The chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said Tuesday he's not ready to sign on to the Canadian National Railway's plan to buy the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern railroad.
CN is seeking approval from federal regulators to purchase the EJ&E, which stretches from Waukegan to Gary, Ind. The Canadian-based company wants to switch more of its freight trains from tracks going through Chicago onto the EJ&E, which is comparatively underused.
While in the region Tuesday, U.S. Rep. James Oberstar said he empathized with towns opposing CN.
Communities ranging from Naperville to Barrington to Lake Zurich have objected to the purchase, claiming it will cause traffic jams and delay emergency vehicles. The issue will be decided by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.
"It may be a benefit for downtown Chicago -- removing rail congestion there -- but it poses a huge burden on small communities," said Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, during a stop in LaGrange with U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski, a Western Springs Democrat.
Oberstar said he'd heard fears from mayors about lengthy freights "severing the community" and causing rescue vehicles to take costly detours at critical moments.
CN has "a long way to go to make accommodations appropriately and to take into account genuine, heartfelt concerns and local obstacles," Oberstar said.
The issue has split municipalities and the Illinois congressional delegation largely based on which area gets more or fewer freight trains.
Adding to the debate Tuesday, U.S. Reps. Melissa Bean, a Barrington Democrat, Peter Roskam, a Wheaton Republican, Judy Biggert, a Hinsdale Republican, and Don Manzullo, an Egan Republican, all asked the Government Accountability Office to report on the safety of railways operating in the country, citing concerns about CN.
But company spokesman Jim Kvedaras said CN's plan will ease a freight bottleneck in Chicago. CN also is offering $40 million to reduce the impact on communities.
"We think this is a way to take some private funds and put them toward a transportation resolution that will be of greater benefit beyond our own property," Kvedaras said.
Lipinski, the one Illinois congressman on the transportation committee, which has oversight of the Surface Transportation Board, has stayed silent on the issue so far.
As trains rattled through LaGrange, Lipinski said he understood why people oppose a boost in freight traffic.
"For people out here in this area and the city, we live with those problems every day and have for many, many years," he said.
For the moment, negotiations will determine "how much is CN going to do to help alleviate some of the issues caused by greatly increasing the number of trains," he said.
"(But) you also need to look at the impact on the entire region for both residents and for commerce," Lipinski said.
By Marni Pyke | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 6/18/2008 12:07 AM
The chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said Tuesday he's not ready to sign on to the Canadian National Railway's plan to buy the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern railroad.
CN is seeking approval from federal regulators to purchase the EJ&E, which stretches from Waukegan to Gary, Ind. The Canadian-based company wants to switch more of its freight trains from tracks going through Chicago onto the EJ&E, which is comparatively underused.
While in the region Tuesday, U.S. Rep. James Oberstar said he empathized with towns opposing CN.
Communities ranging from Naperville to Barrington to Lake Zurich have objected to the purchase, claiming it will cause traffic jams and delay emergency vehicles. The issue will be decided by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.
"It may be a benefit for downtown Chicago -- removing rail congestion there -- but it poses a huge burden on small communities," said Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, during a stop in LaGrange with U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski, a Western Springs Democrat.
Oberstar said he'd heard fears from mayors about lengthy freights "severing the community" and causing rescue vehicles to take costly detours at critical moments.
CN has "a long way to go to make accommodations appropriately and to take into account genuine, heartfelt concerns and local obstacles," Oberstar said.
The issue has split municipalities and the Illinois congressional delegation largely based on which area gets more or fewer freight trains.
Adding to the debate Tuesday, U.S. Reps. Melissa Bean, a Barrington Democrat, Peter Roskam, a Wheaton Republican, Judy Biggert, a Hinsdale Republican, and Don Manzullo, an Egan Republican, all asked the Government Accountability Office to report on the safety of railways operating in the country, citing concerns about CN.
But company spokesman Jim Kvedaras said CN's plan will ease a freight bottleneck in Chicago. CN also is offering $40 million to reduce the impact on communities.
"We think this is a way to take some private funds and put them toward a transportation resolution that will be of greater benefit beyond our own property," Kvedaras said.
Lipinski, the one Illinois congressman on the transportation committee, which has oversight of the Surface Transportation Board, has stayed silent on the issue so far.
As trains rattled through LaGrange, Lipinski said he understood why people oppose a boost in freight traffic.
"For people out here in this area and the city, we live with those problems every day and have for many, many years," he said.
For the moment, negotiations will determine "how much is CN going to do to help alleviate some of the issues caused by greatly increasing the number of trains," he said.
"(But) you also need to look at the impact on the entire region for both residents and for commerce," Lipinski said.