BurbFeeder.com

If you are concerned about CN Railway’s plans to acquire the EJ&E rail line that runs right through Barrington, you’re running out of time to speak up. The deadline for public feedback and comments is just days away. Our comments need to be in the hands of the Federal group reviewing the transaction no later than FEBRUARY FIRST.

Right now, only 3-5 freight trains per day pass through Barrington on the EJ&E line. Canadian National Railway has plans to add 15 more trains daily to those tracks. That’s about 20 trains a day, uncomfortably close to an average of one train per hour. Consider the Cargo: The clients of CN & EJ&E are steel mills, plastics & chemical producers, distribution centers and Chicago area utilities. If the acquisition is approved, the by-products of these businesses will be rolling through Barrington at an alarming rate, with increased risks for ourselves, our neighbors, our businesses, our hospitals, our schools and our environment. Consider the Traffic Hazards: From Ela Road on the north down to Penny Road on the south, there are 8 streets crossed by the EJ&E line in the Barrington area. Specific roads that will be directly impacted are Ela, Cuba, Lake Zurich, Route 14, Hough Street (Route 59), Lake Cook, Otis and Penny. If you take a look at the way the tracks dissect Barrington, creating barriers of access to schools, hospitals & other public facilities, you can understand why Barrington’s police, fire & hospital officials are gravely concerned.

CN officials say using the EJ&E line will help the company add new “efficiencies” to their business and help relieve train congestion in other parts of Chicago by re-routing those trains through our back yards. They look at it purely as a business decision. Their proposed $300-million dollar acquisition would buy them access to the EJ&E line, with a huge cost to Barrington’s residents, businesses & environment. CN is promising to consider the full scope of issues we present, and plans to come up with ways to “mitigate” or allay our concerns. How have they done that in the past? By helping communities soundproof against train noise, by improving grade crossings to accommodate more train traffic and by offering assurances regarding their safety policies. Do these types of solutions sound sufficient? Do these solutions resolve your concerns? If your answer is no, you can submit your comments by next Friday, February 1st. One week from tomorrow. Here’s how:

1. Write to:
   Surface Transportation Board
   395 E Street, SW
   Washington DC 20423
   Attn: Phillis Johnson-Ball
   Environmental Filing
   STB Finance Docket No. 35087
2. File Electronically on the Board’s Website by clicking on this link:
   http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/efilings.nsf
3. Leave your comments right here on our website in the message box below and we’ll forward it for you.

If you want to share your opinion, please don’t delay and please be as specific as possible in discussing how you are impacted. The STB (Surface Transportation Board) needs to know the full scope of issues to fully weigh the risks to our community. Whether you’re concerned about the safety of your children, the impact of more freight trains on traffic, emergency access to hospitals & schools, noise, hazards or other effects on the environment, NOW IS THE TIME to get heard.

Written by Suzanne & Liz Luby
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
303 East Main Street Suite 100
Barrington, IL 60010
Suzanne’s Cell: 847-922-7773
Liz’s Cell: 847-691-3150
Website: TheLubyGroup.com