(The following story by Susan Demar Lafferty appeared on the Southtown Star website on May 4, 2010.)
CHICAGO — During the last eight months, Frankfort residents have spent more than $1 million on new landscaping, courtesy of the Canadian National Railway.
And they’re not done yet.
The railroad gave the village $2.7 million to use to minimize train noise for village residents near the former EJ&E rail line that CN acquired in December 2008. CN plans to substantially increase the number of freight trains daily on the line.
During Monday’s village board meeting, trustees approved disbursing $1 million from that noise-mitigation account. Payments will be made to 300 homeowners – 180 of whom live adjacent to the tracks and 120 who live nearby.
The village allowed the residents to design their own landscaping and hire their own contractor.
As for the remaining $1.7 million from CN, the village has begun another program to allow the same homeowners to buy new windows, doors or insulation to further reduce train noise. Those interested should call the village at (815) 469-2177.