McHENRY, Ill. — The McHenry City Council now is on record opposing Metra’s plans to build a rail yard in Johnsburg, the Northwest Herald reported.
Aldermen voted unanimously Monday to send a letter to Metra notifying the commuter rail service provider about their objection.
“I am totally against it,” Alderman Andy Glab said.
Johnsburg Village President Dave Dominguez declined to comment Monday night about the McHenry council’s objection to the rail yard.
Metra officials began talks with Johnsburg officials earlier this year about building a 12- to 15-train rail yard and commuter train station on the west side of the Union Pacific Northwest railroad tracks less than a half-mile north of McCullom Lake Road.
A rail yard in Johnsburg would allow Metra to store more trains in the area and provide more service between McHenry and Chicago. However, aldermen said they are worried about how increased train traffic from the yard would affect the city. Metra commuter trains going to and from Johnsburg would pass through Petersen Park, the city’s largest, and would cross Route 120, stopping traffic on the busy road.
Aldermen also are unhappy that they have not been included in discussions about the proposed rail yard.
“It impacts our community more than it impacts (Johnsburg),” Alder-man Sue Low said. “If it’s a good idea, I would like someone to say why.”
Johnsburg and Metra officials were invited to discuss the issue with the city council but declined for Monday’s meeting. Officials from Metra and Johnsburg said they would meet with the council in the future, Mayor Pamela Althoff said.
But aldermen said they fear that they will not be included in discussions until it is too late to make changes.
“(Metra) wants to complete everything and then tell us what they are going to do,” Alderman Bill Bolger said. “They don’t care what we think at this point.”
Last week, a Metra representative said the rail yard might be built elsewhere if McHenry opposes a rail yard in Johnsburg.