(The following story by Kim Smith appeared on the Suburban Chicago News website on August 13.)
NEW LENOX — Trains could literally cut off the village from the outside world under a proposal by Canadian National Railway to purchase the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern lines.
That is why Trustee Annette Bowden said it is critical that all residents plan to attend a rally at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Lincoln-Way Central Campus, 1801 E. Lincoln Highway.
“All residents should come to listen and get an understanding of the impact this will have on us,” Bowden said. “It is extremely important to get involved.”
Bowden said there needs to be an outcry due to the fact that Canadian National would have the power to block every railroad crossing if New Lenox is not given any control prior to the purchase getting approval by the Surface Transportation Board.
The Surface Transportation Board is the federal body that has jurisdiction over all railway transactions in the country.
There are five EJ&E railroad crossings in New Lenox. They are at Gougar Road, Cedar Road, Nelson Road, Schoolhouse Road and Spencer Road.
Bowden said the village’s stance on this sale as gone from mediation to opposition.
“We need some control,” Bowden said. “We cannot sit by and let the railroads do whatever they want.”
CN’s plans are to divert trains from its lines in Chicago through the suburbs and could quadruple the number of freight trains running through the area. Trains would pass through certain city crossings as frequently as every half hour.
The plans encompass 200 miles of rail lines that form an arc from the northwest to the southeast suburbs of Chicago about 40 miles outside of the city.
New Lenox also has more information on the CN plans available on its Web site at www.railsense.net.
The Web site reports that a capacity crowd attended a two-hour town meeting held last spring to voice their concerns about the acquisition.
Residents expressed their concerns not only about the impact on traffic backups but on pollution and safety.
During the town meeting, Mayor Tim Balderman noted that out of 251 petitions filed by railroads, the STB approved 250.
Officials are asking residents to voice their opinions by writing legislators. A list of contacts and lawmakers is available on the railsense Web site.
This plan also will have a negative impact in neighboring towns of Mokena and Frankfort. Bowden said you do not have to be a New Lenox resident to attend the rally.