Comment EI-3519
Received or sent (printed as 1/16/2008)
I am a resident of the City of Chicago Heights and I am writing with respect to the Canadian National Proposal to purchase the EJ&E railroad. The City of Chicago Heights has an older industrial section with some specialty steel manufacturing and a number of coating companies. The community struggles with a diminished tax base and actively seeks to strenghten the tax base by attracting both industry as well as new retail business to the area. The traditional downtown section of the Heights is as bleak and abandoned as any mainstreet in the country. If the purchase of the EJ&E by the CN can promote the attractiveness of the Chicago Heights rust belt" it should be given serious consideration. New jobs and a stronger tax base will benefit the residents of the City. I am concerned that adequate overpasses be constructed on major north/south routes to reduce the potential traffic congestion and problems with emergency access. Also, much of the area is low and prone to flooding,we expect all construction and maintenance to enhance storm water management in the area. The tracks run through forest preserve, however, the larger mammals are abundant and appear to have few natural predators. Although I do not like to see animals hurt or killed, I don't think the overpopulated deer are going to be seriously impacted by increase train traffic. I would hope that the CN would consider building adequate rail to service the Matteson Auto Mall located near the intersection of I-57 and Route 30 (Lincoln Highway). Currently, new automobiles are off-loaded from rail (perhaps in Homewood?) and trucked across local roads. Reducing freight traffic on local roads (particularly in residentail areas) would benefit many local residents. I also hope the change would mean relief for towns like Blue Island where the train wait times are truly horrendous--particularly if one is on the way to the St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island. I also assume someone will demonstrate how much energy can be saved by making untangling the rail traffic through Chicago. Economic development throughout the south suburbs can be enhanced by the intersection of shipping (Great Lakes), rail, interstate, and hopefully a new airport in the future. I also think enhancing the linakges between several of the older industrial areas in the Chicago Metro reagion (C.H., Joliet, and even Waukegan) makes long-term sense. I know Metra would like to use this rail for their propose STAR line, a project that may be complicated by CN's propsed increase in rail traffic. However, Metra should place priority on extending Metra service to Chicago Heights and Crete along the UP line before capital is invested to serve communities, many of whom are already well served."
Submitted by: Leona Tichenor
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-3519 · back to the docket sheet