(The following story by Michelle L. Quinn appeared on the Gary Post-Tribune website on February 21.)
GARY, Ind. — A recent meeting between the federal Surface Transportation Board and U.S. lawmakers from Indiana has Canadian National Railroad listening. But it’s up to Northwest Indiana’s municipalities to keep up the momentum, U.S. Rep. Peter J. Visclosky stressed on Wednesday.
Visclosky met with a group of area officials at the Gary/Chicago International Airport to talk about opposition of the sale of the EJ&E Railroad to CN.
Just prior to the Feb. 15 meeting with the Surface Transportation Board called by U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, a CN representative called Visclosky to talk.
But Visclosky told the representative that he’s done talking.
“You need to meet with the leaders of the towns that will feel the impact, and then I want to see you do something,” Visclosky said.
Several towns that would be affected by Canadian National’s proposed increase of 34 trains per day for three years reiterated the detriment it would cause.
Griffith Town Council President Rick Ryfa called Griffith “the worse off” of them all.
“EJ&E has seven crossings, three of which are unguarded, and we’ve had people hurt and one killed,” said Councilman Stan Dobosz, D-5th, of Griffith. “There are nine trains going through there now from EJ&E, adding more would cut the town in two.”
Canadian National needs to continue hearing those complaints, Visclosky said.
“The more CN and EJ&E know we aren’t going away, the better,” he said.
Schererville Councilman Perry Ferrini asked Visclosky, D-Merrillville, if he has had any conversations with any of his Illinois colleagues, who are facing similar situations in cities and villages such as Barrington. Visclosky said he hadn’t, but that it’s a good idea to do so.
Schererville Fire Chief Joe Kruzan said that when what he believes is inevitable happens, towns will need to have an interlocal plan so that residents will receive timely help. But most important, people also have to keep involved by signing petitions and anything else they can think of to oppose the move.
The EJ&E, owned by a subsidiary of U.S. Steel, runs from Gary north to Whiting, and south in a large ring around Chicago, traveling through Joliet and Naperville, Ill.
Canadian National is looking to improve the efficiency of its railroad, which cuts through Chicago in five different directions, by purchasing the shortcut around Chicago.
Cutting travel time through Chicago will improve service to CN customers and cut overall emissions in the region by reducing idling time and unnecessary stops and starts, they say.
But CN’s plan calls for an increase in the number of trains and in the amount of hazardous material that would be shipped on the EJ&E line, particularly between Griffith and Gary.