(The following story by Barbara Kois appeared on the Chicago Tribune website on February 11, 2009.)
CHICAGO — A plan to build a third set of railroad tracks on the Union Pacific line through part of Geneva has some city residents concerned about noise, the environment and property encroachment.
The 3 miles of new tracks will run next to two existing sets of tracks from just west of the Fox River to Peck Road on the city’s west side. The Union Pacific has three sets of tracks from Chicago west to Elburn except for a stretch from the city of West Chicago to Peck Road, where there are two sets.
A $17 million project will close part of that gap and help improve the flow of freight and commuter train traffic through the area, officials said.
But at a recent City Council meeting, some residents expressed worry about emissions from idling diesel engines, increased noise and having trains closer to their homes.
“We’re concerned that the tracks will be close to our yards and that we’ll lose the landscaped buffer we have between us and the tracks because of the additional rail,” said Glen Moore, who lives on Cheever Avenue, which is south of the rail line.
Another Cheever Avenue resident, John Barton, said, “It’s already noisy when Metra parks their trains waiting to pick people up. If you bring that closer to our homes, it can only be louder.”
Officials from Metra and Union Pacific said they do not plan to idle any trains near residences unless there is an emergency. They also said they want to work with Geneva officials and residents to alleviate concerns.
The property needed for the third set of rails lies within an existing Union Pacific right of way and no property acquisitions will be required.
However a third rail will need an additional 15 to 25 feet of land adjacent to the existing tracks, causing the elimination of 94 commuter parking spaces on the south side of the tracks at the Geneva train station on 3rd Street. City Administrator Mary McKittrick said the city is requesting stimulus funding to build a third tier on the commuter parking deck, which would cost $3 million. The city would lose approximately $30,000 a year in revenue from the parking spaces but would make up part or all of that money once the third tier is built.
Resident John Devine questioned the need for the rail project.
“Unless the third rail can go all the way to West Chicago, I don’t see what benefit Geneva residents get from this,” he said.
The long-range plans call for that gap to be closed, officials said.
“Completing the third rail to West Chicago will be a top priority for Union Pacific because until that’s done, the project will not be complete,” said Michael Payette, assistant vice president of Union Pacific.
Metra’s Chief Operating Officer William Tupper told aldermen and residents that the Peck Road to Fox River project will be made possible by a budget surplus from federal funds used to extend Metra service to Elburn. He said the Federal Transit Administration has tentatively agreed to allow Metra to use $8.5 million for the work, with the Union Pacific matching.
Once the FTA gives final approval later this year, engineering will begin. Tupper said construction will likely begin in 2010 or early 2011 and will be completed in 2011 or 2012. Additional funding will be sought to complete the third rail to West Chicago by 2012 or 2013.