(The following story appeared on the Daily Herald website on April 9.)
CHICAGO — The DuPage County Board voted Tuesday to join a consortium of municipal bodies fighting Canadian National’s proposed purchase of the EJ&E Railway line that essentially serves as the county’s western border.
The board also committed $10,000 toward hiring a lobbyist who will act as the group’s voice with federal legislators on the issue. Canadian National hopes to use the rail line to circumvent busy lines through the Chicago area.
Company officials have said the line could see quadruple the amount of traffic that currently runs on it. Municipal agencies are opposing the transaction because of the perceived impact on traffic and safety.
County board members also suggest the purchase would doom the proposed suburb-to-suburb commuter line that is slated to run on the same set of tracks.