Comment EI-4999
Received or sent (printed as 2/10/2008)
We are writing in opposition to the proposed acquisition of the EJ&J railroad by Canadian National (CN), docket no. 35087. As an association of 56 homes within the village of Barrington, we are very concerned that the dramatic increase in rail traffic will have a negative effect our area’s property values as a result of the proposed CN expansion. We have three primary roads that pass through the village of Barrington, one is a four lane highway and the others are two lane roads. Three additional crossings on secondary roads create six crossings that are all at grade level along the EJ&E. The current level of rail traffic routinely brings traffic in our town to a halt. We currently have approximately 60 commuter trains each weekday using the Metra rail line and 5 freight trains each day using the EJ&J lines. Crossings at grade level have always been a concern but changing the access under or over these rail lines was never considered as cost effective or practical. The Metra commuter rail service runs northwest to southeast through town towards Chicago creating many traffic interruptions that are limited in duration. The EJ&E traffic runs in the opposite direction, from the northeast to the southwest, away from Chicago and creates very long delays as it crosses all three main roads at grade. Each railway cuts our village in half but in opposite directions. Currently, most trains on the EJ&E pass through our community during off peak hours and thus have a relatively minor effect on our ability to move through town. The proposed four to five fold increase in rail traffic will have a significant effect on our quality of life and safety due to the increase in traffic delays. It has been estimated that our primary roads will be blocked for two hours and forty minutes of each day under the proposed 29 CN trains. Our downtown will have a difficult time attracting new tenants due to the inability to easily navigate through town, again negatively effecting our home values. The proposed increase in traffic created by the CN purchase will greatly effect our community. Access to local businesses, schools, our area hospital and emergency services would suffer. Fire and police services to our community would be significantly impacted by an expansion of freight rail traffic because of the increased time to service many areas. Our school district, which covers 72 square miles and services a total of 12 villages, carries thousand of students by bus. The crossings at grade will effect the safety of our children and the reduce the amount of time they have to spend either at school or at home. The proposed increase of rail traffic will have a long lasting negative impact on our community. We urge you take in to consideration the significant impact your approval will have on the homes and lives of our families along the EJ&E. Barrington Eastwood Property Owner’s Association Board PO Box 81 Barrington IL 60011-0081 Staci Cronin Brian Dockery Paul Frank Debbie Johnson Kathy Murray
Submitted by: Brian Dockery · Barrington Eastwood Property Owner’s Association Board · 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-4999 · back to the docket sheet