Post by title1parent on Jun 28, 2008 6:09:48 GMT -5
Weisner will lead group with worries of EJ&E sale
June 28, 2008
By Dan Campana dcampana@scn1.com
AURORA -- Mayor Tom Weisner has been selected as co-chairman of a coalition concerned about Canadian National Railway's plan to bring more rail traffic to the suburbs.
The Regional Answer to Canadian National, commonly known as TRAC, has approximately 50 communities organized with a common concern about CN's planned purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway's 198-mile line that stretches in a semi-circle from northwest Indiana to Chicago's northern suburbs. That route, which includes Aurora, could see four times as much freight train traffic if the sale goes through, officials have reported.
Previously, CN officials have said the inconveniences for some communities would be outweighed by the regional benefit of getting trucks off the road as more cargo is handled by trains.
"My sense is this is a bad deal for all of us," Weisner said, adding CN's claims offer short-lived relief, but ultimately "more problems over a wider area."
"It's hard to underestimate the impact its going to have," the mayor explained. "We want to make sure the process is followed to ascertain the environmental impact."
The federal Surface Transportation Board is continuing its analysis of the proposed sale, including the environmental aspects.
This week, the City Council approved $10,000 -- an amount paid by communities to participate with TRAC -- for any purposes needed -- to combat CN's campaign promoting the sale.
"TRAC really needs to inform and communicate," Weisner said.
Weisner, who will co-chair the 15-member executive board with Barrington Village President Karen Darch, described his role as both an honor and a serious responsibility. The board includes county representatives from Kane, DuPage, Lake and Will counties and two from different portions of Cook County, as well as a municipal official from a town in each of those counties. Also on the board are members of a local school board, township government and park board.
Darch said the voice of affected towns "will be louder" because of TRAC.
"It does not make sense to impact our communities this way," she said. "We've got a lot to do, and we don't know how much time we have."
In April, Aurora's City Council supported a resolution to work with other communities affected by the proposed sale and set aside funds toward the fight. Weisner's Chief of Staff Bill Wiet said that move was proactive, but the new resolution shows a unification of local communities concerned about Canadian National.
"This has taken a different shape and form," he said of the intergovernmental agreement.
June 28, 2008
By Dan Campana dcampana@scn1.com
AURORA -- Mayor Tom Weisner has been selected as co-chairman of a coalition concerned about Canadian National Railway's plan to bring more rail traffic to the suburbs.
The Regional Answer to Canadian National, commonly known as TRAC, has approximately 50 communities organized with a common concern about CN's planned purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway's 198-mile line that stretches in a semi-circle from northwest Indiana to Chicago's northern suburbs. That route, which includes Aurora, could see four times as much freight train traffic if the sale goes through, officials have reported.
Previously, CN officials have said the inconveniences for some communities would be outweighed by the regional benefit of getting trucks off the road as more cargo is handled by trains.
"My sense is this is a bad deal for all of us," Weisner said, adding CN's claims offer short-lived relief, but ultimately "more problems over a wider area."
"It's hard to underestimate the impact its going to have," the mayor explained. "We want to make sure the process is followed to ascertain the environmental impact."
The federal Surface Transportation Board is continuing its analysis of the proposed sale, including the environmental aspects.
This week, the City Council approved $10,000 -- an amount paid by communities to participate with TRAC -- for any purposes needed -- to combat CN's campaign promoting the sale.
"TRAC really needs to inform and communicate," Weisner said.
Weisner, who will co-chair the 15-member executive board with Barrington Village President Karen Darch, described his role as both an honor and a serious responsibility. The board includes county representatives from Kane, DuPage, Lake and Will counties and two from different portions of Cook County, as well as a municipal official from a town in each of those counties. Also on the board are members of a local school board, township government and park board.
Darch said the voice of affected towns "will be louder" because of TRAC.
"It does not make sense to impact our communities this way," she said. "We've got a lot to do, and we don't know how much time we have."
In April, Aurora's City Council supported a resolution to work with other communities affected by the proposed sale and set aside funds toward the fight. Weisner's Chief of Staff Bill Wiet said that move was proactive, but the new resolution shows a unification of local communities concerned about Canadian National.
"This has taken a different shape and form," he said of the intergovernmental agreement.
