(The following story by Andre Salles appeared on the Suburban Chicago News website on May 20.)
CHICAGO — The proposed sale of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad to Canadian National Railway Company continues to draw controversy, with Sen. Barack Obama joining in the discussion.
In a letter to Barrington Village President Karen Darch, Obama expressed his concerns over the planned sale, which would see Canadian National diverting many of its trains from Chicago to tracks running through the suburbs. In some cases, the number of trains running through suburban areas could quadruple if the move is approved.
Before the $300 million sale can go through, it must be approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board. That board is in the midst of a study to determine the impact of the sale on affected communities.
“I am opposed to this merger as currently proposed,” Obama wrote, “and will work with affected communities to make certain their views are considered as a part of the Surface Transportation Board process.”
In his letter, Obama said he is “seriously concerned” about the effects of traffic backups and increased safety hazards on suburban communities. He mentioned Metra’s proposed STAR line, a suburb-to-suburb rail service still on the drawing board. While Canadian National has pledged to work with Metra on the STAR line, many of the sale’s detractors believe the increased traffic along the EJ&E line would make Metra’s plan difficult, if not impossible.
Perhaps most notably, Obama suggested that Canadian National should be responsible for the lion’s share of the infrastructure improvements needed for the increased freight traffic along the EJ&E line. Canadian National has budgeted $100 million to add secondary and connective tracks to the EJ&E line, and an additional $40 million for community improvements.
But local officials have estimated that each grade crossing separation (overpass or underpass) could cost between $20 and $40 million, money that, if Canadian National doesn’t foot the bill, will come from federal, state and local coffers.
“The costs associated with any infrastructure improvements required by this increased freight traffic should be largely borne by CN, and any merger should reflect a solid commitment by the new owners to pay for these improvements,” Obama wrote.
Obama’s office has been providing these letters to interested parties for some time, and on May 2, Canadian National CEO Hunter Harrison sent the senator a response. Harrison wrote that the railway company has been meeting with local governments to work out agreements for grade separations and other infrastructure improvements, which he believes work best as shared expenses.
“This is particularly so, the (Surface Transportation) Board indicates, as it pertains to costly measures such as grade-separated crossings that primarily benefit the community rather than the railroad … ,” Harrison wrote.
Harrison also wrote that the sale would not negatively impact the STAR line, or Amtrak service from Chicago’s Union Station. Canadian National officials have repeatedly stressed their belief that the sale would benefit the entire Chicago region, and have pushed for a big-picture look at the issue, rather than one focused on negative impacts to suburban communities.
“We urge you not to advocate the views of the relative few who are resisting change and are intent on stopping the transaction, and instead support those seeking to address legitimate concerns while generating broad public benefits,” Harrison wrote.
Canadian National has requested the environmental impact study be wrapped up by Dec. 1. The Surface Transportation Board has not responded to this request.
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s letter to Canadian National
Thank you for contacting my office about the proposed acquisition by Canadian National Railroad (CN) of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad (EJ&E. I am opposed to this merger as currently proposed and will work with affected communities to make certain that their views are considered as a part of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) process.
I am seriously concerned about the potential hardships for communities associated with increased freight traffic, including traffic delays and the effect on emergency responders in communities who must pass through many at-grade crossings to reach people who need their help. Cities and towns along the EJ&E line must be assured that their commerce and their safety are not imperiled by slow-moving trains that could be as much as two miles in length.
In addition, the negative effect on important pubic transportation projects, such as Metra’s New Start project STAR Line, as well as existing Amtrak service, is cause for additional concern. The increased freight traffic could increase costs, decrease on-time service, create construction delays, or postpone indefinitely the completion of important public transportation improvements that the Chicago metropolitan region desperately needs.
Finally, the costs associated with any infrastructure improvements required by this increased freight traffic should be largely borne by CN, and any merger should reflect a solid commitment by the new owners to pay for these improvements.
I appreciate your input on this important topic and assure you that I and my staff will be closely monitoring developments on this merger in the months to come.