(The following story by Louise Brass appeared on the Suburban Chicago News website on July 18.)
PLAINFIELD, Ill. — The public can voice its opinions on the potential sale of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad to Canadian National at a meeting at 6 p.m. July 23 at Waubonsie Valley High School’s Gold Campus, 1305 Long Grove Drive in Aurora.
A formal presentation will begin at 7 p.m. The goal of the event is to provide residents with the most recent information about the proposed purchase and a project timeline.
The freight traffic, which is expected to increase by 150 to 300 percent if CN buys the EJ&E, would be disastrous for the village, said Plainfield Mayor James Waldorf.
Plainfield has 16 at-grade crossings. They could all be blocked as long freight trains move through the village or stop on the tracks, hindering emergency vehicles, commuters and school buses, Plainfield officials said.
The communities along the line must work together on this pending problem, Waldorf said.
“It is important that Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield work collaboratively to make our voices heard on this issue,” Naperville Councilwoman Darlene Senger said.