Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Don Manzullo on Canadian National's Proposed Purchase of EJ&E Railroad
CN Barrington Hearing Talking Points
Good evening. I am Congressman Don Manzullo, and I represent the 16th Congressional District of Illinois. I’m here today because the proposed sale of the EJ&E line to the Canadian National (CN) Railway will have significant negative impacts on many of the people I represent in McHenry County.
While I’ve been concerned about this deal since day one, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement recently released by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) confirmed many of my worst fears about increased accident risks, increased air pollution, increased exposure to hazardous material, and increased traffic. The report also acknowledged that railroads traditionally only contribute 5 to 10 percent of the costs to mitigate these problems. That would leave taxpayers to pay the tab for a transaction that solely benefits a private company’s bottom line.
I say it’s not about what’s traditional – it’s about what’s fair.
I understand that this transaction could have some macro benefits but it accomplishes that goal primarily by exporting the train congestion problems in downtown Chicago to outlying suburban areas such as Barrington. Tens of thousands of motorists in McHenry County travel through Barrington on their way to work each day, crossing the EJ&E line at Route 14, Route 59, and Lake-Cook Road. Another 4,000 or so ride Metra rail to work each day, crossing the EJ&E line in Barrington. All of these people will be affected by additional freight trains.
At the very least, they are going to encounter inconvenient delays. At the worst, it could become a matter of life and death. Not only could emergency responder vehicles become trapped on all sides by a train, but school buses in the Barrington school district cross the EJ&E lines some 400 times a day. Additional freight trains could quadruple the safety risk of students who traverse the crossings each day.
I am deeply troubled that, despite overwhelming public interest in this transaction, Canadian National recently filed a request to expedite a final decision on this transaction. I stand in opposition to this blatant attempt by Canadian National to evade the environmental review process and deny communities like ours a voice, and I urge the STB to reject this request.
I’m also concerned that the purchase of the EJ&E line could doom a planned expansion of commuter rail that will help suburban residents get to work faster as road congestion continues to snarl suburban roads. The proposed STAR line would connect nearly 100 suburban communities and provide a direct connection to O’Hare International Airport. Without access to 36 miles of EJ&E tracks, I fear that Metra’s STAR line could be shelved indefinitely.
Last month, I cosponsored legislation (H.R. 6476) that could help reserve the necessary expanse of EJ&E track for the STAR line. That way, the line could be used for benefit of the public, not just for the profit of a private company.
I am also a strong supporter of legislation (H.R. 6707) that would require the STB to weigh the impacts on local communities more heavily when considering railroad transactions.
I am very much looking forward to hearing the community perspective this evening. The conversation on this doesn’t end today, however, and I encourage all of you to continue voicing your concerns
Thank you.
Good evening. I am Congressman Don Manzullo, and I represent the 16th Congressional District of Illinois. I’m here today because the proposed sale of the EJ&E line to the Canadian National (CN) Railway will have significant negative impacts on many of the people I represent in McHenry County.
While I’ve been concerned about this deal since day one, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement recently released by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) confirmed many of my worst fears about increased accident risks, increased air pollution, increased exposure to hazardous material, and increased traffic. The report also acknowledged that railroads traditionally only contribute 5 to 10 percent of the costs to mitigate these problems. That would leave taxpayers to pay the tab for a transaction that solely benefits a private company’s bottom line.
I say it’s not about what’s traditional – it’s about what’s fair.
I understand that this transaction could have some macro benefits but it accomplishes that goal primarily by exporting the train congestion problems in downtown Chicago to outlying suburban areas such as Barrington. Tens of thousands of motorists in McHenry County travel through Barrington on their way to work each day, crossing the EJ&E line at Route 14, Route 59, and Lake-Cook Road. Another 4,000 or so ride Metra rail to work each day, crossing the EJ&E line in Barrington. All of these people will be affected by additional freight trains.
At the very least, they are going to encounter inconvenient delays. At the worst, it could become a matter of life and death. Not only could emergency responder vehicles become trapped on all sides by a train, but school buses in the Barrington school district cross the EJ&E lines some 400 times a day. Additional freight trains could quadruple the safety risk of students who traverse the crossings each day.
I am deeply troubled that, despite overwhelming public interest in this transaction, Canadian National recently filed a request to expedite a final decision on this transaction. I stand in opposition to this blatant attempt by Canadian National to evade the environmental review process and deny communities like ours a voice, and I urge the STB to reject this request.
I’m also concerned that the purchase of the EJ&E line could doom a planned expansion of commuter rail that will help suburban residents get to work faster as road congestion continues to snarl suburban roads. The proposed STAR line would connect nearly 100 suburban communities and provide a direct connection to O’Hare International Airport. Without access to 36 miles of EJ&E tracks, I fear that Metra’s STAR line could be shelved indefinitely.
Last month, I cosponsored legislation (H.R. 6476) that could help reserve the necessary expanse of EJ&E track for the STAR line. That way, the line could be used for benefit of the public, not just for the profit of a private company.
I am also a strong supporter of legislation (H.R. 6707) that would require the STB to weigh the impacts on local communities more heavily when considering railroad transactions.
I am very much looking forward to hearing the community perspective this evening. The conversation on this doesn’t end today, however, and I encourage all of you to continue voicing your concerns
Thank you.
Labels: 16th Congressional District, Canadian National, Don Manzullo, EJ and E RR
# posted by Cal Skinner : 8:28 AM
