Comment EI-13973
Received or sent (printed as 9/30/2008)
Dear Ms. Johnson-Ball, I am writing in opposition to the Canadian National (CN) Railway Company’s acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway. As a brother and uncle of residents of Frankfort, Illinois, who own and live in a home off of Laraway Road, less than a mile south of the tracks, the health and welfare of this community are at stake. To begin, to access any medical facility (doctor’s office, hospital, etc) within close proximity, my sister's family need to cross the tracks, either at Harlem Avenue or Pfeifer Road (heading north from Laraway Road). Due to the 400% increase in trains on those tracks, it scares me to think she or an emergency vehicle would be waiting at the tracks during a life or death situation. This is not and should not be acceptable. Another scary fact is this railway will now be more likely to transport hazardous materials. My sister's children go to church and preschool less than 200 yards from the railroad. And many homes are right next to the track. Combine this with an estimated increase of 28% in train accidents, there can and will be dire consequences. CN obviously has no concern for the people of this country (less this village) since they so easily disregard any safety concerns of the local population. It has been stated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that property values near the tracks will be reduced. I am certain that my sister's home value will be negatively affected by this decision, given her proximity to the tracks, the noise, the pollution, and the fact that in order for her to access any amenities (doctors, library, grocery stores, restaurants, highway, etc), she need to cross those tracks. If she ever decides to sell her home, it will be very difficult, since her home is on the south side of the tracks. The most disturbing fact of this whole ordeal is that CN has offered to pay only 5-10% of the costs of grade separations and that the local taxpayers should pay the rest. How is this acceptable? A foreign company wants to run their trains through our towns and they want us to pay so they can increase their already large profit. The Village of Frankfort as well as other communities are currently not adept to handle this significant increase in trains. CN needs to bear the responsibility of these costs, not the taxpayers. I truly hope you will take a hard look at the negative impact that this acquisition would have on our and surrounding communities and decide to REJECT this proposal. Thank you for reading my letter and agreeing to listen to the people of the affected communities. Sincerely yours, David Bolland
Submitted by: David Bolland · Plymouth, WI
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-13973 · back to the docket sheet