(The following story by Lee Provost appeared on the Daily-Journal website on December 7.)
KANKAKEE, Ill. — If the $300 million sale of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Co. to Canadian National gains approval, rail traffic in Will County could increase by a whopping 400 percent within three years.
The prospect concerns county officials.
“This is the biggest single threat to traffic, lifestyle and personal safety in Will County,” county board member Cory Singer said. Singer said residents could be looking at rail crossings that handle 30 or more trains per day, compared to just a few currently.
At Thursday’s Will County Board’s Executive Committee meeting, Jim Kvedaras, Canadian National’s senior manager of United States Public and Government Affairs office, said the purchase of nearly 200 miles of EJ&E track will help ease rail congestion in Chicago.
However, he said, that means there will be a marked increase in rail traffic in Will County. The number of trains carrying hazardous materials would also increase.
The sale is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Board.
The transaction could be completed by as early as mid-2008, or more likely early 2009, Kvedaras said.
Kvedaras said the sale is considered a “minor” transaction by STB.
That classification may be true in terms of railroad companies, said county Land Use Department Director Curt Paddock, but in terms of potential impact, he preferred the term “major.”
Board chairman Jim Moustis agreed.
“The railroad’s plan to boost train traffic by 400 percent and up the number of hazardous railcars from 50 to more than 350 per year will have an enormous negative impact on communities across our county,” Moustis said.
The EJ&E tracks run through Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox, Joliet, Crest Hill and Plainfield.
“Where overpasses are needed, the railroad should build them,” the chairman said.”Where flashing warning signals need to be upgraded to crossing gates, the railroad should install them. … Costs associated with those matters should be the responsibility of the railroad.”
Kvedaras did not respond to that statement.
With such an increase in rail traffic, county officials worry that car and truck traffic will be blocked for considerable periods throughout the region.
Board member Richard Brandolino, of New Lenox, said just when traffic concerns have been somewhat eased with the opening of the Interstate 355 extension, this rail project could gridlock the region.
Moustis said the County board has always been pro-commerce, “but there is a balance on how it affects the quality of life.”
Several years ago, the EJ&E was discussed as a potential future “outer ring” commuter line for Metra, allowing east-west passenger commuter travel for south Cook and north Will County residents from Lynwood on the state line to Joliet and beyond.