Comment EI-5556
Received or sent (printed as 2/15/2008)
I am contacting you to express my concerns about the purchase of the EJ&E rail tracks through the western suburbs of Chicago by CN, STB Finance Docket No. 35087. The proposed increase in rail traffic will have a significant negative impact on our community. There are concerns with the noise and vibration for residents in close proximity to the tracks. There are concerns about hazardous cargos that will be transported, and the needs for evacuations and remediation were an accident to occur. There are concerns about impact to the natural habitates the are in the proximity of the tracks. There are concerns about increased polution from the trains. There are concerns about access to the Rush-Copley Medical Center by individuals on the east side of the tracks. There are concerns about access to many schools of the Indian Prairie Unit School District #204 by students within their boundaries that are located on the opposite side of the tracks, and noise impacting the quality of education. There are concerns about the many at-grade crossings and few crossings with under or over passes that will hinder movement within our community, most notably US Routes 34 and 30. There are concerns about the hazards to motorists crossing the tracks with the increase number of trains and increased speeds that are proposed. There are concerns about the increase in local taxes that will be necessary to mitigate all of the negative impacts on our community, while CN will receive significant financial benefits. I do not believe that CN has adequately addressed these concerns. I am also extremely disappointed with the lack of a hearing with CN in the Aurora area, which is the largest Illinois city impacted by this sale. I hope that future steps in this process will include meetings in Aurora. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any question about my comments and concerns. Thank you.
Submitted by: George Vickers · Aurora, Illinois
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-5556 · back to the docket sheet