Comment EI-8674
Received or sent (printed as 8/24/2008)
I am strongly opposed to the CN proposed acquisition of the EJ&E Railroad, and I believe the draft EIS does not address all of the key issues. Mitigation is needed at more intersections. For example, in Barrington, additional grade separations are needed at more than Hough Street, especially at Northwest Highway, Lake-Cook Road, and the intersection of the EJ&E and Metra rail lines. Additional grade separations would be needed in other communities as well. There is absolutely zero benefit to Barrington or other affected outlying communities from the proposed acquisition. Therefore, the entire costs of the mitigations must be paid by those parties which will benefit, specifically CN railroad and the city of Chicago. However, these parties are not willing to bear the costs of mitigation. Economic consequences are greater than estimated in the DEIS. The great increase in freight train traffic will greatly increase noise and congestion, and greatly decrease the overall appeal of Barrington and other communities. Our towns will be less desirable for residents and businesses, which will sell out and further decrease property values of those who stay. Consequently, tax collections will decrease, causing services to decrease, and generate a downward economic spiral in the affected communities. Safety issues would increase greatly, especially if there is only 1 grade separation as noted in the DEIS. Traffic congestion, which is already bad through Barrington, would get much worse. Public safety vehicles would be obstructed, putting lives at risk due to delayed responses by police, fire, and paramedics personnel. Also, air quality would decrease and fuel would be wasted as a consequence of the great increase in traffic congestion. STB should consider other alternatives and not approve this proposed acquisition.
Submitted by: David Hays · 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-8674 · back to the docket sheet