Comment EI-14109
Received or sent (printed as 9/30/2008)
September 30, 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 writing to express my opposition to the prospective acquisition of the EJ&E line by Canadian National Railway. I work for the LWASE Dist 843 transportation, and our bus lot is directly impacted by this deal. It would mess up the Lincoln Way area's transportation of students to and from school. I personally work with special needs students, and they cannot be detained on a bus for as long as the CN trains would be. I also strongly feel that the negative impact this proposed transaction will have on our local communities as a whole is immense. The increased number of longer and faster freight trains running through our neighborhoods will result in: 1) More accidents and deaths along the rail line 2) An increase in automobile traffic gridlock at rail crossings 3) Elevated pollution and noise levels 4) Dangerously longer response times of our Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Teams 5) Disruption and/or closure of local business activities 6) 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, Amy Watson
Submitted by: Amy Watson · New Lenox, 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-14109 · back to the docket sheet