• CN Acquisition of the EJ&E
• New Quiet Zone Creation
• FRA Train Horn Rules

Background

On October 30, 2007, Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and Grand Trunk Cooperation requested Surface Transportation Board (STB) authorization to acquire the Elgin, Joliet and Easter (EJ&E) rail line running from Waukegan, IL to Gary, IN. If approved, this transaction would allow CN to re-route trains around Chicago.

CN has stated that the proposed purchase will move their freight traffic away from the congested lines in Chicago. CN believes that bypassing Chicago will enable them to move trains more efficiently through the region. The applicants state that communities along the EJ&E will experience a 15 to 24 train increase in daily traffic. In addition, the applicants state that there will be a decrease in rail traffic on the CN rail lines inside the EJ&E.

The STB is currently reviewing the proposed acquisition and in the process of preparing an Environment Impact Statement (EIS).

NWMC Position

On February 13, 2008, the NWMC submitted comments on the draft Scope of Study. The NWMC Transportation Committee, Executive Board, and full Board approved the letter. You can read the full letter by clicking here:

The communities of the NWMC appreciate the broader impact that this proposed acquisition can have on the local, regional, and national freight network. Some members have the potential to see a dramatic drop in the number of trains, while others face considerable disruption due to increases in freight traffic. However, there are a number of concerns that are collectively shared by the NWMC. The NWMC is concerned that increased freight traffic on the EJ&E could jeopardize the STAR Line. Village President, council members and staff from NWMC communities have been leaders for well over ten years in championing the much needed suburb-to-suburb commuter rail line. In addition, the impact to existing Metra service, both positive and negative, concern the NWMC. Another concern is mitigation. Under the propose purchase, communities with minimal levels of freight traffic currently would see a dramatic traffic increase, disrupting established traffic and development patterns. The need for mitigation efforts with substantial CN involvement must be explored to prevent simply shifting gridlock from one portion of the region to another. Finally, the NWMC is concerned with the proposed acquisition’s impact on existing and planned quiet zones.

STB Review Process

Next Steps

SEA will prepare a draft EIS, which will be published at the end of this summer. The draft EIS will address required environmental subjects as well as those environmental issues and concerns identified during the scoping process. It will also contain SEA's preliminary recommendations for environmental mitigation measures. Upon completion of the draft EIS, the document will be made available for public and agency review and comment. Public hearings will also be held during the comment period. SEA will then prepare a final EIS that will address the comments on the draft EIS. The Board will review the Final EIS and then issue a decision on the proposed project. The STB has not released a schedule for making their final decision.

You can find out more about the proposed purchase at http://www.stbfinancedocket35087.com.

Will be updated soon.

Will be updated soon.