Comment EI-13847
Received or sent (printed as 9/29/2008)
There are numerous concerns about the acquisition of the Ej&E Railroad by CN within the many surrounding communities that the railroad cuts through. Specifically, the concern over the impact of having upwards of 20 trains on the tracks, up to a mile long each every day. Going at an average speed, this suggests that there must be at least 1 per hour round the clock! Further, this will directly effect the efficiency of emergency personnel, not excluding trauma teams who remain on call and are going to the hospital for emergencies daily, to get to patients and/or hospitals to save lives. Next, thousands of students must cross on foot, or via car, or bus the tracks to get to and from school on a daily basis, this increased number of trains puts them at increased risk of injury and being late to school. Finally, the environmental impact of having hazardous materials getting transported at an alarming rate, especially with a community dependent on aquifers and wells which would be severely impacted were a spill to occur. Finally, the obvious impact to commuter traffic must be addressed. We are keenly aware that there is a lot of money to be earned by the Canadian railroad, but as Americans, who will not benefit AT ALL from this acquistion and are being threatened with having to pay a hefty price to accomodate this move, we must protest. If this is to be passed, at the very least require the train line to cover the cost of all mitigation for underpasses and/or overpasses. It is the very least they could do with their substantial profits.
Submitted by: Elizabeth Bromet · North 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-13847 · back to the docket sheet