Comment EI-13190
Received or sent (printed as 9/24/2008)
Ms. Phillis Johnson-Ball Surface Transportation Board 395 E Street, SW Washington, DC 20423 Ref: STB Finance Docket No. 35087 Dear Ms. Johnson-Ball, I am a twenty year resident of the Barrington, Illinois area. My kids are grown and gone. But I believe that the vitality of a neighborhood requires children. I attended the Surface Transportation Board Meeting that was held at our local high school. The superintendent of the high school pointed out the buses for the high school have to cross the E J & E railroad tracks over 800 times per month. The high school itself is located about two blocks from an E J & E crossing. Most of those students who do not take the bus have to cross those tracks to get to the high school. I wonder what the actuary tables would tell us the probability of an accident would be with high school students, late for school, would be over a year? The plan is to increase the traffic by a factor of at least four. Why is a railroad more important than a child? Can you explain to a grieving parent that this action helped relieve congestion? I am told that this purchase will relieve congestion in other parts of the city but does that solve the problem or push it down the road? And are you willing to be the person that we point to if there is a problem because of your decision? You need to make a comprehensive study of what is necessary to solve the problem. Allowing a private entity, and a foreign one at that, make a decision for you that impacts a number of neighborhoods and cause a local crisis that will literally require millions of tax dollars is avoiding your responsibility to the local residents. I am hoping that you are a distant relative and will take pity on a long lost relative. In October of 2005, I had a double bypass. In order for me to get to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Illinois, I must cross the CN railroad. I am terrified. I want to express my opposition to the prospective acquisition of the EJ&E line by Canadian National Railway. I strongly feel that the negative impact this proposed transaction will have on our local communities is immense. The increased number of longer and faster freight trains running through our neighborhoods will result in: More accidents and deaths along the rail line An increase in automobile traffic gridlock at rail crossings Elevated pollution and noise levels Dangerously longer response times of our Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Teams Disruption and/or closure of local business activities Adverse impact on our property values Additionally, recent studies by RTA have revealed that a potential overcrowding of the EJ&E lines will also interfere with commuter METRA train lines affecting our ability to get to and from our workplaces in a timely manner. Please do not let us be “railroaded” by Canadian National. We are hopeful that you will make the decision to vote against this acquisition and to help keep our communities safe for us and for future generations. Respectfully yours, R. Dennis Ball 20364 Meadow Lane Deer Park, IL 60010
Submitted by: R. Dennis Ball · Deer Park, Illinois
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-13190 · back to the docket sheet