(The following story by Bethany Krajelis appeared on the Kane County Chronicle website on July 20.)
ST. CHARLES, Ill. — When West Chicago’s mayor thinks about Canadian National Railway’s plan to buy the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway, he said the phrase “we’re being railroaded” comes to mind.
“There’s a reason you use the term,” Mayor Mike Kwasman said. “Do I trust [CN]? No, I don’t.”
With the goal of increasing freight capacity, CN is looking to buy 200 miles of rail line used by EJ&E, which runs in a southwestern loop around Chicago from Waukegan to Gary, Ind.
It cuts through several suburban counties, and, with CN estimating a daily increase of 15 to 24 trains, many local communities have voiced opposition. Municipalities say more car traffic, longer waiting times, and more noise and pollution would damage local economies, quality of life and safety.
The EJ&E runs east of Kane County, so the impact, according to Jim Kvedara, CN’s senior manager for US public and government affairs, “will probably be minimum for residents of Kane County.”
But, a group of area leaders, known as The Regional Answer to Canadian National or TRAC, thinks otherwise.
Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, who is TRAC’s co-chair, said a call to action public meeting for residents in Aurora, Naperville and Plainfield is slated for Wednesday, when residents will be presented with information.
“This isn’t necessarily on the front burner for towns who don’t think they are directly affected, but this is far reaching,” he said. “Economies are going to suffer, and the quality of life will diminish.”
‘It all depends…’
In October 2007, CN filed an application with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board seeking the acquisition of 200 miles of EJ&E rail line. CN is offering to pay $300 million and plans to invest $100 million in improvements.
CN officials claim the purchase will help reduce congestion in Chicago’s rail system, because CN trains will be moved onto the EJ&E.
Kvedara also said their plan will help the environment. If there are more trains on the tracks, he said that would take some of the trucks off the roads.
The company estimates that over the next three to four years, more than a dozen locations on the EJ&E will see 15 to 24 more trains a day.
Kvedara said that, if Kane County residents drive east into the EJ&E tracks in Wayne, they might see an increase, but if they continue east, they would see fewer.
“It all depends on where people are traveling,” he said. “They could cross the prospect of more, but they could also cross tracks closer and closer in the city that will [have] fewer trains per day.”
‘We’ll be watching’
While several cities have been vocal in the opposition to CN’s plans, many leaders in Kane County have been quiet or have not taken a stance yet.
Tom Rickert, the deputy director of Kane County’s Department of Transportation, said the county board has not yet taken a position. He said they would like to see the result of the Surface Transportation Board’s environmental study.
STB officials said the issue is pending, and the board does not discuss pending cases.
“There is the potential there could be impacts,” Rickert said. “A lot of this is early, but we’ll be watching.”
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns said his city also has not taken a formal position, adding that it is “still in the fact-finding mode.”
St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte said city officials have been paying attention and are “indirectly concerned.”
St. Charles and West Chicago provide fire, paramedic and police services to the Village of Wayne. DeWitte said CN’s acquisition of the EJ&E could “conceivably create blockages at various points into the village.”
Eileen Phipps, president of the Village of Wayne, did not return several messages.
“We’ve given our support to the Village of Wayne and West Chicago,” DeWitte said. “Residents need to be aware of what regional impacts of this type of train traffic could be.”
‘What’s your life worth?’
Besides concerns of increased noise and pollution, Weisner and Kwasman emphasize their fear that emergency services will be affected.
Weisner said EJ&E tracks divide Rush-Copley Medical Center on Odgen Avenue from a third of Aurora’s population.
“If there’s an emergency and you’re trying to get someone to the hospital, a train could delay that significantly,” Weisner said. “This is not good for our area, and this is not good for America.”
Kwasman said he is worried that if something happens in Wayne, increased train traffic would “totally landlock fire and police.”
“If you’re having a heart attack and it takes an extra five minutes to get to a hospital or your house is on fire, what’s your life worth?” he said.
The EJ&E line also runs next to West Chicago High School, Kwasman said, adding that 35 percent of the 2,100 students walk to school.
“It’s going to fall on our shoulders,” Kwasman said, explaining that the Supreme Court ruled that putting up overpasses is the responsibility of municipalities.
Kwasman said a previous study estimated an overpass would cost the city about $50 million. In Aurora, Weisner said the city estimates a similar project would cost $40 million.
‘Where’s the future?’
CN opponents also argue that the railroad company’s plan would kill Metra’s STAR line proposal.
In 2003, Metra announced it wanted to buy a portion of the EJ&E for its STAR line, a 55-mile rail that would connect 100 towns from O-Hare to Joliet.
“If EJ&E does sell to CN, there will be no STAR line,” Kwasman said. “We look at the STAR line as an economic generator.”
Weisner agreed, citing recently introduced legislation of U.S Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill.
Roskam, who does not list EJ&E by name in his bill, is proposing that the government designate the 36 miles Metra wants for its STAR line as commuter rail, which would block CN’s plan to add more freight trains.
Kvedara previously said that Roskam’s bill “appears to be addressing an issue that CN has already committed to,” regarding CN’s promise to work with Metra to meet both their goals.
“We need the STAR line,” Kwasman said, referring to the sales tax revenue municipalities could receive as a result of the commuter line. “If you bring in enough revenue, there’s no reason to raise property taxes.”
“If you lose that revenue, where’s the future?” Kwasman added. “No longer can you think as a municipality for today and tomorrow, you have to think 10 years down the line.”
If you go…
What: Call to action public meeting for residents of Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Waubonsie Valley High School Gold Campus, 1305 Long Grove Drive in Aurora