Comment EI-13495
Received or sent (printed as 9/28/2008)
I have lived at my current address for 15 years, and cross the EJ&E line a minimum of twice a day to get to and from work. My son crosses the tracks twice a day to get to school. For 5 years now, the State of Illinois paid for bus service for our entire subdivision to get to and from Still Middle School. This is a school within walking distance from our neighborhood, but it is unsafe to cross the tracks given the current gate system. When we first moved in, traffic on that line was only a few trains a day and a couple at night, usually only carrying coal. Traffic has tripled over the past several years, including freight trains carrying ocean containers and even car carriers. My particular subdivision is sandwiched between 2 roads with grade level crossings (Ogden and Montgomery). Traffic with the current level of train traffic is horrendous on Ogden, and a large number of cars cut through our residential neighborhood to get to Montgomery road (a two lane street). It is normal in rush hour to sit through several lights to cross the street due to the backup caused by a train. Having worked in the transportation industry for over 10 years, I understand the need to upgrade and increase our rail capabilities within the U.S. However, I do not believe this needs to be at the expense of local residents and taxpayers. If CN wants this rail line to increase their business and profits, they need to adequately fund the necessary upgrades to the current infrastructure. The proposed sale to CN does not adequately address the need to upgrade the numerous crossings in our area with either overpasses, underpasses, safer crossings, etc.
Submitted by: Petra Anderson · Aurora, 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-13495 · back to the docket sheet