Comment EI-4739
Received or sent (printed as 1/30/2008)
We leave just west of EJ&J surface crossing (Hafenrichter Rd). We did not attend any of the official scoping meetings since they were approximately 20 miles away. First, let me say that it was very short sided of your committee to leave out the second largest city in IL as a location to host one of your scoping meetings. It was presented to us at our local meeting that the crossings that we use every day will see an increase in train activity from 10 to 45 trains p/day. It was also stated that these trains could be up to 2 miles in length. Since all of these crossings are surface crossings, we'd like to know the following: 1) How will CN insure that emergency services will be met in the same timely manner in which are met today? Given that we only have around 10 trains vs a potential of 45. 2) How will CN protect the residents that live along the EJ&J line in the event of an accident involving a train carrying hazardous material? Four times the number of trains four times the risk. 2) Most of us who are fortunate to have health insurance have HMO's offered through our employer. Edwards Hospital is the closest hospital in network for us. Edwards Hospital is on the eastern side of the tracks. If I am rerouted to a hospital (Rush-Copley) out of network because of a train delay, who will reimburse me for that additional expense? 3) How much more gas will the residents of this area be using sitting, waiting for trains go to by at a rate of approximately two p/hour? 4) The areas along the tracks in our area have become wildlife corridors. How will these corridors be protected? 5) How much additional noise can we expect from this increase? 6) What is will the affects be on air quality in our neighborhoods given that we now have four times the number of trains coming through? You also need to consider the emissions from the cars that are sitting at the tracks waiting for the trains to pass. 7) Will there be any consideration made to limiting the number of trains p/day? 8) What specific types of hazardous substances will be carried on these trains through our neighborhoods? 9) Will there be a schedule available so we will know when trains will be coming through our area -as a means of avoiding getting stuck at the tracks. 10) What will the increase in train traffic do to our property values? Will it make our neighborhoods less marketable? Also, it is our understanding that the tracks currently being used by CN only have two surface crossings in Chicago. It is also our understanding that CN believes this purchase will benefit 3.2 residents of Chicago. I do not believe that 3.2 million people, living in Chicago, pass by two surface crossings each day in downtown Chicago. Those of us living in the suburbs have nothing to gain from this acquisition. It does, however, appear that we will be left with numerous negative consequences.
Submitted by: Linda Brusseau · 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-4739 · back to the docket sheet