(The following story by Gina Kenny appeared on the Southtown Star website on September 25.)
CHICAGO — Frankfort village officials are not putting all of their eggs in one basket. The village will spend money to prevent a hurried ruling on Canadian National’s acquisition of the Elgin Joliet & Eastern railroad while also submitting a list of mitigation requests in case the purchase is approved.
The Frankfort Village Board approved, at a specially called meeting Tuesday, a list of 14 mitigation requests if the federal Surface Transportation Board approves the acquisition of the EJ&E railroad.
The 198 miles of the EJ&E tracks arc through the Chicago suburbs, passing through towns such as Frankfort, New Lenox, Matteson, Park Forest and Chicago Heights.
Resident Al Levering said the sale would “effect the quality of my life and will probably cause me to move.”
While the village is against the acquisition, it is also trying to be realistic. “Out of about 250 requests, the Surface Transportation Board has only turned down one,” Mayor Jim Holland said.
The mitigation would be “to help us through what would be a major negative impact on our community,” Holland said.
The list of mitigation requests include having Canadian National pay for improved safety devices at crossings, keeping the track and trains maintained and constructed to reduce derailments and sound and to provide funding for training fire and police departments.
The improved safety devices could help crossings in the village qualify as quiet zones, which “is very important to our residents,” Holland said.
The village also wants video cameras and/or motion sensors to help emergency personnel to be dispatched without being delayed by trains as well as double tracking not allowed to begin or end within two miles of the village, officials said.
Village officials are requesting the government restrict the number of trains during certain times of the day. Frankfort also is asking that Canadian National pay for berms and plants to be constructed to help mitigate noise.
The village would also like the ability to fine Canadian Railroad for blocking intersections for an excessive period of time and for the railroad to pay for grade separations at Harlem Avenue and Wolf Road. However, Holland said Frankfort officials realize getting some of the things they’ve asked for is unlikely.
The board had to approve the mitigation requests at a specially held meeting because the deadline for comments to be submitted to the Surface Transportation Board is Sept. 30, Trustee Cynthia Heath said.
Frankfort village officials are not putting all of their eggs in one basket. The village will spend money to prevent a hurried ruling on Canadian National’s acquisition of the EJ&E railroad while also submitting a list of mitigation requests in case the purchase is approved.
The Frankfort Village Board approved, at a specially called meeting Tuesday, a list of 14 mitigation requests if the Surface Transportation Board approves the acquisition of the EJ&E railroad.
The 198 miles of the EJ&E tracks arc through the Chicago suburbs, passing through towns such as Frankfort, New Lenox, Matteson, Park Forest and Chicago Heights.
Resident Al Levering said the sale would “effect the quality of my life and will probably cause me to move.”
While the village is against the acquisition, it is also trying to be realistic. “Out of about 250 requests, the Surface Transportation Board has only turned down one,” Mayor Jim Holland said.
The mitigation would be “to help us through what would be a major negative impact on our community,” Holland said.
The list of mitigation requests include having Canadian National pay for improved safety devices at crossings, keeping the track and trains maintained and constructed to reduce derailments and sound and to provide funding for training fire and police departments.
The improved safety devices could help crossings in the village qualify as quiet zones, which “is very important to our residents,” Holland said.
The village also wants video cameras and/or motion sensors to help emergency personnel to be dispatched without being delayed by trains as well as double tracking not allowed to begin or end within two miles of the village, officials said.
Village officials are requesting number of trains to be restricted during certain times of the day and for Canadian National to pay for berms and plants to be constructed to help mitigate noise.
The village would also like the ability to fine Canadian Railroad for blocking intersections for an excessive period of time and to pay for grade separations at Harlem Avenue and Wolf Road but realize some of the requests are unlikely, Holland said.
The board had to approve the mitigation requests at a specially held meeting because the deadline for comments to be submitted to the Surface Transportation Board is Sept. 30, Trustee Cynthia Heath said.
Montreal-based CN wants the $300 million sale approved by the end of the year. But, the Surface Transportation Board has said a ruling could come as late as Jan. 31.