Planned sale of EJ&E troubles Bean

[City Lights]

Planned sale of EJ&E troubles Bean

Quadrupled rail traffic would pressure highways

December 19, 2007

By FRANK ABDERHOLDEN [e-mail]

Concerns about the sale of the EJ&E West Co. railroad are growing after news that the number of trains on the line heading west from Mundelein will increase from about five a day to 20.

U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Barrington, announced Monday that she has contacted the federal Surface Transportation Board, which governs the transaction between the Canadian National Railway Co. and Grand Trunk Corp.'s purchase of the EJ&E tracks.

Bean requested a complete environmental impact statement study and a local hearing on the transaction, and the board agreed.

Bean said the rail lines run through eight communities in her district, and she wants to make sure the process is open and community concerns are addressed.

"Local traffic congestion, already a problem, would be seriously exacerbated," Bean said. The Surface Transportation Board has agreed to classify the transaction as "significant" instead of "minor," which means there will be an environmental impact study, and a formal hearing is planned in spring.

more... http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/703311,5_1_WA19_TRAINHEAR_S1.article

[mac2]

1. Train whistles and noise

is a problem for residents whose communities have been built right next to the rail lines. Not used much in the past they have increased. Other communities have demanded the whistles at night be stopped by building better crossings, etc.

A problem not even discussed in this country is the fact that the Canadians (CNN)are buying up our railroads. We need these in times of disaster. Will their concerns for market, etc. be ours? Many rail lines were publically built.

Globalization stinks. It's not in our best interest but for the Empire Builders who are back fighting for profit and power.

[mac2]

2. This is bigger than I thought

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=114429&src=109

I oppose the buyout of the railroad to Canadian National Railway Corp. It is a monoply. Many railroads are owned by them now in the US.

Yes..it will be a lot of noise. They care little since they don't live here or even in this country. Corporations are irresponsible in many ways if they are not regulated by us. If it is foreign how can we do it?

I have a friend in NY State who ownes a small line railroad and has to kiss the feet of the CEO to connect onto the lines, etc.

Time to take back our national resources (oil, gold, timber, roads, etc.) from foreign owned companies. They belong to the American people (and many of them paid for by us). They pollute and don't pay royalities.

We disapprove of the NAFTA highway and Americas Union. It is treasonous.

Our government has failed to look after our best interests. Selling our roads and railroads is just one of the many things they do without our permission.

Not only is it a foreign monopoly but in times of a disaster or confrontation could we count on having the lines available to meet our needs. It is a matter of security and national defence.

[frogcycle]

4. A little support for equal treatment of our railroads

by our own government would go a long way toward keeping them from being gobbled up by CNR.

They struggle to maintain right-of-way while taxpayers pay for roads and waterways.

Rail transportation so vastly more economical than highway, much more energy-efficient. And yet we allow the oil, trucking, and barge lobbies to continue to put them at disadvantage.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

3. Greenberg trying to take credit

I just got a January email from the Greenberg campaign where Steve Greenberg claims he should get all the credit for addressing this issue and specifically saying he is ahead of Bean on this one.

LOL. As was her last opponent, Greenberg seems to be at least a month behind the times.

It is great to see Congresswoman Bean on top of a major transportation issue which affects the entire metro area, not just the 8th District. Bravo.

[frogcycle]

5. the signs protesting this are like mushrooms around Barrington

good old NIMBY syndrome.

The stuff has to move somehow. This is a plan to reduce congestion going through Chicago. Make it more efficient.

But there are all these signs shouting "people before freight!"

What do the "people" think the "freight" is? Do they not want electricity, automobiles, food, all that cheap shit from China?

Sure it will have an impact. So does having the population explode to 300 million people.

All those whiney folks in Barrington can chip in and pay for an underpass like the one built in Wheaton on County Farm Road (which is Barrington Road farther north).

I drive by some of those 30,000 sq ft houses twice a day. My heart just bleeds for them. They want the trains to keep rattling windows on the South Side of Chicago and leave them in peace.