(The following story by Guy Tridgell appeared on the Southtown Star website on August 20.)
CHICAGO — Canadian National Railway’s attempt to buy the Elgin Joliet & Eastern Railway is picking up supporters.
U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski will announce on Thursday that he is backing the controversial sale.
The Western Springs Democrat declined to comment, but his endorsement carries some weight. As the only Chicago area member of the House Transportation Committee, he oversees the Surface Transportation Board, which has the final say on CN’s plans to buy the EJ&E from U.S. Steel for $300 million.
Joining Lipinski in support of the purchase will be suburban mayors who have formed START — Solutions To Area Rail Traffic. The mayors are backing the deal in hopes it will reduce train traffic in their towns.
Among the group’s members are Crete Mayor Michael Einhorn and South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff.
CN officials have said more than 60 suburbs will see a reduction in trains if the company can acquire the 198 miles of EJ&E tracks encircling the Chicago area. About 30 towns, according to CN, will see more trains. Those include New Lenox, Frankfort, Matteson and Chicago Heights and Barrington.
Last month, the Surface Transportation Board issued a report that found bridges and other costly solutions may be required at 15 railroad crossings from the northern suburbs to northern Indiana that would see huge increases in traffic because of the added trains.
Elected officials in some of the towns expecting more traffic have been vocal critics of the deal.