Comment EI-5581
Received or sent (printed as 2/16/2008)
As a resident of the Westridge subdivision in Bartlett, IL, the current travel time on West Bartlett Rd. from Westridge Blvd. to Rt.59 (approx. 1 mile) WITHOUT the interruption of a freight train can take over 20 min. during morning and evening rush hour traffic. This is already a problem due to the addition of over 4 new neighborhoods with West Bartlett Rd. being the main, and only artery to them. West Bartlett road is already a serious traffic problem that needs immediate attention for widening, additional lights, and also the serious disrepair of the road at the crossing which currently causes halting of traffic and potentially deadly accidents. The frustration of encountering only one train in a day can cause missed time from work, and missed appointments, thus taking food out of my child's mouth. There is not a way around this roadblock quicker than the 15-20 minute wait for the train to pass, that is, if it doesn't stop several times first. That being said, this is already a LIFE and DEATH situation. With the firehouse on the East side of the tracks being built for the residents who live on the West side of the tracks, this is a horrific disaster in the making. There is already an overpopulation for West Bartlett Road for even one freight train a day, or without ANY freight trains going through. I have a child, and with another one on the way, it scares absolutely sick that there could be freight trains crossing these tracks every hour. The tracks are near elementary schools, and our homes, and the air pollution, noise pollution, etc. are very serious concerns to me. This will lower our property values tremendously. But, the deadliest potential result of all of this is that no ambulance, fire truck, paramedic, police officer, etc. will be able to get to anyone in need quick enough approx. every hour for 20 minutes minimal additional delay. How many people does that kill? And how many road rages will it take for someone to snap and hurt someone? Or, how many people, tired from waiting so many times, will try to beat the gates and lose there life or whole family trying? This is a recipe for disaster larger than I can imagine especially if one of these trains carrying toxic chemicals derails in our Children's backyards and schools?
Submitted by: Amy Hernicz · Bartlett, 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-5581 · back to the docket sheet