Comment EI-14208
Received or sent (printed as 9/30/2008)
Re: STB Finance Docket No. 35087 Canadian National Railway Company and Grand Trunk Corporation – Control – EJ&E West Company Dear Ms. Quinlan: I am a resident of Wayne, Illinois and strongly object to Canadian National Railway Company’s (CN) proposed action. I and our community will be drastically harmed by it. We moved to the Chicago area from another State and decided after some initial explorations to settle here in Wayne about two years ago. We like the open, natural areas around us and the local life style and for that my husband agreed to a long daily commute with its inconveniences and additional costs. The proposed increase of trains from 4 to 24 per day would be dramatic for Wayne. In addition to the significantly increased frequency, the trains will be much longer to maximize efficiency and the proposed daily train car loads of hazardous material traveling through our village will rise from 21.1 to 265.5, an increase of 1,285%! All this is proposed through an unprepared area with natural resource treasures and only at-grade crossings over one lane tracks. Following are my main concerns about the proposed acquisition: Safety Risks Delay of emergency responses Wayne has mostly at-grade railroad crossings. With proposed lengths of trains of 8,000 – 10,000 feet two crossings could be blocked at a time by one single train and once every hour day and night. That could cause a devastating delay of needed emergency responses by police, fire department and medical personal. However, the DEIS down plays these first responder impacts. Increased risk of accidents 1. Pedestrians and Motorists: Some of these at-grade crossings do not even have barriers. I am concerned about increased accidents by people, especially children still trying to cross the tracks by foot in front of an oncoming train. 2. Equestrians: I am also worried about safety as a horse back rider, and there are many of us in Wayne. I generally have to cross the train tracks at least twice during a trail ride and many trails run at least for a short stretch parallel to the train tracks. With the proposed train frequency it will be impossible to avoid train encounters during horse back rides and the noisy and whistling trains could cause a horse to spook and get out of control which could result in an accident. 3. Train Accidents: I am very concerned because of the fact that all of our intersections cross single tracks which may increase the risk for train crashes. The scheduling of trains going in both directions has to be done much more careful than with double tracks and the recent train accident in Chatsworth, CA was a sad reminder of the consequences of a human error in the railroad business. The EJ&E line was not meant for the heavy freight use that CN is proposing. 4. Hazardous Spills: An accident causing a hazardous spill could have disastrous consequences not just to the directly impacted neighborhood, but hazardous material could get into the groundwater and aquifer and contaminate a wide area. We depend in our area on our own drink water wells and contamination of the shallow aquifer we are tapping into could have long term effects. In my opinion more studies are needed to evaluate and better address the potential impacts that could occur from a spill and how to mitigate them. Disruption of Traffic and Suburban Commuter Services The adverse impact to first emergency responders by intersections blocked by a freight train has already been pointed out as a safety concern. Of course, it would also change the daily local traffic patterns and significantly increase the times for local errands. The calculations of the traffic impacts are based on generalized assumptions. Why were traffic calculations only done for average daily trips (ADT), and not also for rush hour times? During these times most people have a strict schedule. Also, the speed of the trains will be slower in our area than in others. It was pointed out to me at the open house of the local public meeting for this project that despite improvements, some of the curves in our area will only allow limited, slow train speed and thus the trains will also go much slower through the nearby intersections. Environmental Impacts 1. Noise and vibrations: The increase in frequency and length of trains together with the sounding of the train horns will cause increased noise and vibrations, which can severely impact our environment. Still, the noise assessment methodology is outdated and rejected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and therefore not adequate. 2. Air quality: Another environmental concern is the adverse impact to air quality due to carbon emissions by vehicles stopped at railroad crossings. These impacts must be adequately addressed and should be mitigated. 3. Water quality: As pointed out above, clean water is crucial to us because we depend on drink water wells. In addition, our Forest Preserves include extended wetland areas that harbor a variety of sensitive plant and animals. Contamination of ground and surface water would have devastating ecological effects. 4. Quality of natural habitat: The EJ&E line runs through environmentally sensitive areas. They not only include the above mentioned wetland areas, but also woodland, savanna and prairie habitats. Due to the special and rare plants and animals observed there, these areas are maintained, restored and monitored with great financial and labor efforts. In fact, many of us volunteer our time to support these efforts. The existing natural areas around here prompted us to settle in Wayne and I am very concerned about the potential impacts the CN proposal may have on them. A hazardous material spill could have a disastrous long term impact on them. Reduction of Property Values The DEIS assumes adverse property value impacts only within 250 feet of the line. However, a reduction of home and property values can also be expected in a much greater distance from the tracks and should not be ignored. Who will want to live in a community where short ways can take a long and unpredictable time due to blockage of crossings by freight trains? Who wants to risk that police, fire department and medical aid will be delayed in an emergency? Who wants the continued noise from the movement of the long trains and their horns plus the increased safety risks that were pointed out above? It is outrageous that impacts to residential housing are considered minor, negligible effects. Inadequate Consideration of Local and Regional Public Plans 1. Traffic: Efforts to relief the local traffic by extending Stearns Road via a bridge across the Fox River, which is in construction at this time, would be significantly undermined by increased rail traffic and its associated road blockages at the at-grade crossing on Stearns Road. Such an adversely impacted traffic project funded by the public hand should be adequately discussed in the DEIS, but is not. 2. Commuter Trains: The proposed STAR Line development which would better service the suburban communities will be disrupted. Parts of the DEIS conclude that EJ&E would reach capacity and interfere with Metra’s trains under the CN operating plan, however, other paragraphs conclude that the implementation of the STAR line will not be precluded. However, simply the offer to “work with Metra to explore all options” and to continued discussions does not guarantee a solution and cannot be accepted as an adequate mitigation. These impacts will affect a wide commuter circle. 3. CREATE: The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency program was formed to offer a comprehensive, regional solution to rail issues in the greater Chicago area. Monies previously designated to this program may now be shifted towards costs resulting from the CN acquisition, if it is approved. Thus, the DEIS not only eliminates CREATE as a reasonable alternative for the CN acquisition, but makes them competitors for scarce state and federal funding. 4. Bid for the Olympic Games 2016: When Chicago bid for hosting the Olympic Games in 2016, Wayne and the Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve were discussed as a good place to hold the equestrian events. That makes a lot of sense with the Lamplight facility already in place which is specialized in large equestrian events, and the big jumping course within the Forest Preserve. However, Lamplight is squeezed in between two railroad tracks and tracks are also crossing the Forest Preserve. It is hard to imagine any Olympic equestrian competitions after the implementation of CN’s proposal. Failure to Assess Likelihood of Taxpayer Investment in Mitigation Options Significant financial burdens to mitigate direct and potential indirect impacts of the proposal may be pushed upon taxpayers but are not discussed in the DEIS. Increased noise levels due to the increased train traffic may lead to the need for establishments of Quiet Zones. But in order to fulfill the Federal Railroad Administration Quiet Zone requirements, very expensive safety improvements have to be installed. The cost for these would mainly fall on our community and the taxpayers. All local tracks are only one lane and at-grade. If CN only is willing to come up with 5% to max 50% of the costs for grade separations as mitigation measure, who will pay the difference? Is the federal or state government prepared to help fund these? The difference of the needed funding has to be identified or this mitigation measure is not an adequate one. I find it outrageous that Canadian National’s so clearly pushes its agenda without more consideration to all the communities, residents and natural resources affected. If an alternative route is so important to them, why does the DEIS not review alternatives? How can you minimize impacts if you are not looking for alternative solutions? In addition, their willingness to go to court and get permits before the completion of the environmental review process is not a good indicator of successful problem solutions after project implementation and leaves questions regarding voluntary mitigations. In fact, it makes me even wonder who enforces the mitigation measures of the DEIS if necessary. Since our move to Illinois, the economy deteriorated and property values dropped. If Canadian National’s proposal is implemented, also our quality of life will be significantly impacted in a variety of ways. Please do not allow this acquisition to go through. I strongly urge the Surface Transportation Board to deny the proposed acquisition of the EJ&E line by CN. Sincerely, Angelika Brinkmann-Busi
Submitted by: Angelika Brinkmann-Busi · Wayne, 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-14208 · back to the docket sheet