Comment EI-5000
Received or sent (printed as 2/10/2008)
I am writing in opposition to the proposed acquisition and expansion of the EJ&J railroad by Canadian National, docket no. 35087. Our community is at the crossroads of 2 railroads, the EJ&E a freight only line, and the Northwest Metra rail line, which primarily serves as a commuter service to Chicago 35 miles away, but also handles some freight service. We have 3 primary roads that pass through the village of Barrington, only one is a four lane highway, Route 14, and the others are two lane roads, but all three roads have crossings that are at grade level. 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. Our village is far enough away from Chicago that crossings at grade level have always been a concern but bring about change for access under or over these rail lines has never cost effective. The 2 different rail lines intersect in our downtown and run in opposite directions and both disrupt auto traffic because all the crossings are at grade. Commuter rail service, which creates many traffic interruptions that are limited in duration, is very different from the very long delays freight trains create on the EJ&E. Currently, most trains on the EJ&E pass through our community during off peak hours and have a relatively minor effect on our lives. The proposed four to five fold increase in rail traffic will have a significant effect on our quality of life due to the increase in traffic delays. The dramatic increase in congestion will surely have a negative effect our area’s property values as a result of this expansion. Our downtown will have a difficult time attracting new tenants due to the inability to easily navigate through town. As an asthma sufferer, I also fear the air quality in our area will also suffer due to the proposed quadrupling of rail traffic because of the additional fine particulates generated by the locomotives. 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. 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 those students and the reduce the time they spend either at school or at home. While I understand the benefits CN expects to achieve by utilization of the EJ&E rail lines, the proposed increase of rail traffic will have a long lasting negative impact on our community. I urge you take in to consideration the significant impact your approval will have on our village and others like ours along the path of the EJ&E rail line. Brian Dockery 245 Whitney Drive Barrington IL 60010
Submitted by: Brian Dockery · 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-5000 · back to the docket sheet