Comment EI-4720
Received or sent (printed as 1/30/2008)
This submission is in regard to the pending CN purchase of the EJ&E line. My family & I live in the southern end of Barrington Hills. In a medical emergency, the closest emergency room is to the south and east. Naturally, we travel south and east to get there. The EJ&E line crosses both the north/south and east/west roads. Currently, any train traveling on that line blocks BOTH roads at the same time, as that section of track runs on a northeasterly angle. At the present, it isn't too much of a concern, as relatively few trains, and relatively shorter ones, travel that line. If the train count is increased 300%, and the length of the trains is increased (both of which CN has stated is their intention), the life of my child, my wife, myself, and my neighbors is put in danger in the event of an emergency. We are not like the city or more urban areas. We do not have multiple routes to multiple emergency rooms. We, as a community, cannot afford the increased danger posed by this proposal. Moreover, the Barrington Hills community is known as an equestrian community. Many residents own and ride horses. Horses are, by their nature, animals of prey. The sounds of a train approaching causes them to assume they are in danger, and they flee. This flight response causes them to do irrational things, such as run through fences, into roads and highways, etc. It's bad enough when the animal is injured as a result, but a rider is in peril when this occurs. Again, it is not a frequent occurrence, but a 300% increase in traffic will ultimately result in someone getting hurt. It does not need to happen. Finally, the impact on wildlife must be considered. There is an abundance of deer in the area. Ignoring for a moment the possibility that a deer may be hit by a train, the reality is that their migration patterns will be shifted by the increased train traffic. This will result in the deer being forced to cross roads, resulting in increased deer/automobile collisions. We hope that you will consider the dramatic impact on the lives of the communities affected, and reject CN's proposal. The monetary savings for the shipper should not be considered ahead of the safety and lives of the residents of the affected communities. Thank you for your consideration.
Submitted by: Nathan Snodgrass · Barrington Hills, 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-4720 · back to the docket sheet