(The following appeared on the Post-Tribune website on August 5.)
CHICAGO — A congressional field hearing on the impacts of the proposed purchase of the EJ&E Railroad by Canadian National will meet today in Chicago.
The hearing is set to start at 10:30 a.m. in the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Room 2525, on 219 S. Dearborn St.
Five Illinois lawmakers will be holding the hearing; U.S. Rep. Peter J. Visclosky, D-Merrillville, is unable to attend, but will have a staffer read a statement.
The five Illinois representatives are Melissa Bean, D-Barrington; Judy Biggert, R-Hinsdale; Bill Foster, D-Geneva; Don Manzullo, R-Egan; and Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton.
Suburban and downstate representatives, whose districts would see an increase in train traffic under the sale, are expected to be critical of the proposal.
Several area municipalities and organizations will be speaking at the hearing, including Griffith and the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. Canadian National will not testify at the hearing.