Comment EI-12484
Received or sent (printed as 9/23/2008)
I oppose the current proposal of the Canadian National Railroad to purchase the EJ&E right of way because it would turn an already severly congested trafic condition into gridlock. The EJ&E line crooses six roads in Barrington (Cuba Rd, Lake Zurich Rd., N.W. Hghwy, Rte. 59, Lake-Cook Rd. and Otis Rd. Three of these roads are major regional arterys. Rte 59 is the primary north/south route to the Chain of Lakes recreation area. N.W. Highway is a four-lane road which serves as a major route to Wisconsin. Lake Cook road is the only road providing access across the Fox River to the North Shore suburbs of Chicago. Barrington is already severly stressed by traffic congestion. In peak traffic hours Barrington is nearly impassable. Barrington is also crossed by the Union Pacific northwest line which is a major commuter line to Chicago. Several trains per hour already pass through Barrington. The EJ&E line has been almost dormant. Adding 25 to 30 10,000' freight trains per day to the already overcongested Barrington traffic grid would have profoundly negative consequences, not only for the residents of Barrington, but for the entire region. The north-South and East-West corridors would be particularly impacted as there are no alternative routes. The problem and the solution are the same. The problem is the grade level crossings. Trafficon the major routes has to stop to allow trains to pass . The solution is to build underpasses (or overpasses). If the Illinois Department of Transportation were consulted it would be obvious that the traffic congestion issue is already critical. Approval of the CN proposal without addressing the traffic issue will strangle the area in traffic congestion. The proposed acquisition provides an excellent opportunity to create a positive out of a negative.
Submitted by: Richard C. Leng · Barrington, IL
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-35087/comment/EI-12484 · back to the docket sheet