(The following story by Richard Wronski appeared on the Chicago Tribune website on March 5.)
CHICAGO — The Canadian National Railway Co. should pay the entire cost of building overpasses to eliminate blocked crossings in the suburbs along the rail line it wants to buy, opponents of the deal said Tuesday.
Even if it takes billions of dollars for dozens of overpasses, Canadian National should be required to put up all the money because the Montreal-based railroad would be the prime beneficiary, leaders of Barrington Communities Against CN Rail Congestion said at a meeting with the Tribune’s editorial board.
For a railroad that earned more than $2 billion in profits last year, building grade separations as needed along the 198-mile Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad is “the cost of doing business,” said Bruce Sauer, village president of North Barrington.
Canadian National seeks the federal Surface Transportation Board’s approval of its $300 million bid to buy the EJ&E, which runs in an arc from Waukegan to Joliet to Gary. Canadian National freight trains would use the line to bypass congested tracks in Chicago.
Canadian National said in a statement Tuesday that it is “committed to reaching a reasonable balance between the need for a strong national rail system and appropriate mitigation of local issues. While taking into account community concerns, solutions should support regional and national priorities as well.”
The City of Chicago and many close-in suburbs support the purchase, which the railroad says would unblock 180 crossings and ease freight congestion. But towns along the EJ&E from Mundelein to Joliet to Park Forest are raising objections. Barrington opponents have been the most vocal.
The EJ&E has 133 vehicle crossings along its route. Members of the Barrington coalition estimate there are 30 points where overpasses could be needed because of blockages from increased freight train traffic.
Typically, the state and federal governments provide the bulk of the funding for grade separations, which can easily run $50 million apiece. Building 30 overpasses could cost $1.5 billion.
Canadian National President E. Hunter Harrison has said the railroad would be willing to pay its “fair share” for three or four crossings, but that the state and federal governments should fund most of the cost.
Under its plan to use the EJ&E, Canadian National said its trains would pass through 25 percent fewer crossings at nearly 45 m.p.h., minimizing driving delays, saving fuel and reducing pollution.