Comment EI-4660
Received or sent (printed as 1/28/2008)
I'm extremely concerned about the possible sale of the EJ&E Railroad to the Canadian National Railroad. As I understand it, this sale would result in a remarkable increase of train traffic. As a resident who has lived 1/4 mile from the train for 14 years, I cannot over-emphasize the negative impact it would have on safety and quality of life. First, this railroad cuts through our entire, school district. The number of school busses and inexperienced teenage drivers who cross these tracks each day is quite large. We've already had one incident at the Ogden Avenue crossing where two teenage boys were killed when they tried to beat the train. I'd have to guess that an increase in train traffic would result in an increase of such tragedies. Second, this is a highly populated area. When a train stalls (and it has twice in the last few weeks), it results in terrible traffic congestion, often causing drivers to drive miles out of their way to get to a crossing that is not grade-level. 3)Living so close to the railroad tracks, the whistles of existing trains have forced us to sleep with our windows closed at all times. Otherwise, the noise wakes up our entire family. The sharp increase of such noise if this sale would go through would most likely cause us to move out of the area, even with the lower property values which would surely result from a double track being built so close to our home. I understand that you have requested feedback from citizens. I hope this was not just a formality with the decision already made. As a government agency, it is time for you to truly listen to what citizens have to say. After all, it is we who will have to live with the consequences of your decision. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Submitted by: Carol Vesely · Aurora, 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-4660 · back to the docket sheet