(The following story by Guy Tridgell appeared on the Daily Southtown Star website on September 10.)
CHICAGO — The clock is ticking on legislation that could kill the controversial plan to sell the EJ&E Railroad and divert more trains to the suburbs.
A Congressional hearing Tuesday in Washington, D.C., was the first step in creating a law that would require federal regulators to take a harder look at community impacts when ruling on railroad mergers and acquisitions.
But lawmakers backing the legislation will have to move fast.
Congress adjourns Sept. 26.
“I think we have a real shot at moving this bill through the House. It won’t be easy” U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-13th) said after testifying. “We don’t have much time.”
The Hinsdale Republican noted the bill has the support of both parties and the House Transportation Committee chairman, U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, a Democrat from Minnesota.
The EJ&E cuts a 198-mile arc through the Chicago area, running through New Lenox, Frankfort, Matteson, Park Forest and Chicago Heights. The Canadian National Railway Co. wants to buy the line for $300 million as a bypass for trains stuck in Chicago’s gridlocked rail network, but the company first needs the OK from the Surface Transportation Board.
Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland said the bill in Congress should be enough to thwart CN’s efforts to acquire the EJ&E if it passes. If not, the new law will provide new regulatory language requiring railroads to pay for improvements, such as overpasses and underpasses, when increasing traffic through a community, he said.
Holland is lobbying on the bill’s behalf before returning today from Washington.
The mayor said existing federal laws, dating to the 19th century, give too much freedom to railroads.
“We are no longer in the 1800s. We are not trying to create powerful railroads to conquer the West,” Holland said. “In this day and age, we have wealthy railroads with healthy profits.”
CN ran into a setback this week when the Surface Transportation Board shot down a request to expedite its environmental review of the EJ&E sale. The board will finish the review between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31.
Officials with CN have said they will consider taking the matter to federal court as soon as Monday.