Comment EI-5428
Received or sent (printed as 2/15/2008)
There are many issues for me regarding the CN purchase of the EJ&E. The EJ&E tracks run thru my backyard, very litterally. I am concerned about the increased noise as well as vibration from an increased number of trains. If they come thru at night, my perception is that I will have constantly disrupted sleep. My oldest son has asthma. I worry about the additional polutants by the trains, as well as fumes from idle engines. Additionally, any idle engines will cause damage to the heavily wooded area in my neighborhood. In that same vein, if my child does require immediate medical attention, how will the increased number of trains affect emergency response times? There is only one underpass in the Village of Frankfort, at LaGrange Road. I find myself KNOWING that the increased response times could very well mean the difference between life and death for my son in the event of a severe attack. There are NO CROSSING GATES at 116th Avenue, less than a quarter of a mile from Hickory Creek Middle school. Its seems fairly obvious that must be corrected! The clear an present danger that crossing represents with each and every train passing is simply unacceptable. Speaking of crossing gates, you will need to consider adding gates to all 4 sides of each grade crossing...if the train tracks will be blocked by the increased train traffic, people will begin to try to race around the tracks. You must consider adding under or over passes in the Frankfort area. I would have to drive 3+ miles to go around a train. The crossings here in Frankfort were not constructed to handle the volume the proposed merger would create. The emergency responders in our are would need additional training and equipment to handle hazmat problems. My tax dollars should not be used for this; I firmly believe CN should bear this financial burden. My children currently have a long commute to their respective schools, Lincolnway East High School and Hickory Creek Middle School. I can't imagine how long their commutes will be if the crossing are constantly blocked. The surrounding roads which potentially could be used as alternate routes are at of above capacity. The CN MUST work with IDOT as well as county and village planners to alleviate these issues by expanding the 2 lane underpass at LaGrange road and consider under/overpass construction on Harlem Avenue, Pheiffer Road and Center in Frankfort. This merger MUST also include plans for berms and sound barrieries in any new construction areas. Any track replacements must be made with inproved materials to decrease sound and vibration from any crossing trains. I thank you for your consideration of these issues. Judith BIrd
Submitted by: Judith Bird · Frankfort, 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-5428 · back to the docket sheet