Comment EI-4489
Received or sent (printed as 1/27/2008)
Dear Ms. Johnson-Ball - Please accept my letter here to state my opposition to the proposed acquisition of the EJ&E Rail line by the Canadian National Railway, that passes through Lake Zurich and Barrington, Illinois. As a citizen of this community for ten years I can attest to the volume of traffic delays caused by the current level of use of this rail line. An acquisition that would define an increase to this current level will cause greater negative impact that would affect countless citizens, businesses, and services that provide care and safety to the local population. My residence is just just south of this line, as my Braemar subdivision is bound by the EJ&E to the north, Ela Road to the east, and Cuba road to the south. I am very familiar with the delays that is caused and the volume of traffic that passes outside the rear of my home on Ela. Train traffic has delayed school bus traffic causing my son and the children of my neighbors to arrive late to school on numerous occasions. The line itself is very close to the intersection of Route 12 and Ela, and when a train passes adjacent to this intersection, traffic backs up thoughout each of the four directions, causing risk to those in cars that are wrapped around corners, or trapped in left turn lanes. Ela Road is a major travel artery through this community, and additional trains that consume 5, 6, 7, or 8 minutes would - without a doubt - cause hardship and delays in this community. I would not want to be in the position to state that a train delay perpetuated a dangerous situation from being resolved, such as a fire, or critical care need of a citizen, because the one key north and south artery, central to hundreds of homes, and thousands of citizens was blocked. I echo the concerns of others that are opposed to this acquisition for the following reasons: · Traffic tie-ups that would strangle local communities, leaving children alone at school without a ride after dark. · Businesses without access to either employees or customers. · Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals from Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital who are concerned that increased freight traffic would delay first responders and people in medical emergencies. Such delays can mean life or death for victims of an accident or patients in cardiac arrest. · Police are concerned that their response to emergency calls would be slowed by traffic delays. · Local fire officials who said that a fire doubles in size every minute, so that minutes spent waiting for a passing freight train can make the difference between a battle won or lost for a home in flames. · Real estate professionals and home-owners said home values would decline due to traffic gridlock, the vibrations of passing freight trains, and the increased risk of train accidents. Please consider the needs of the citizens of Lake Zurich and Barrington, and stop the proposed acquisition of the EJ&E by CN. Thank you, and please do not hesitate to contact me for further clarification. Carl Clouse
Submitted by: Carl Clouse · 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-4489 · back to the docket sheet