Resolution States Objections to Proposed Railway Acquisition

     The Resolution, which may be accessed on the City's website, www.westchicago.org, outlines its objections through staggering statistics related to the increase in freight train traffic that such an acquisition would pose. According to estimates provided by CN, the average number of daily trains that run along the segment of the EJ&E rail line that runs through West Chicago, north of the Union Pacific tracks, will increase from 4.4 to 24.4 trains per day, and that the gross tons of freight per day that run over that segment will increase from 14,397 tons to 184,969 tons, an increase of 1,185 percent which would be the greatest of all locations along the EJ&E.

     CN further estimates that the average number of daily trains that run along the segment of the EJ&E rail line that runs through West Chicago, south of the Union Pacific tracks, will increase from 10.7 to 34.5 trains per day with an increase in gross tonnage of 294%.

     Increases in traffic congestion, noise and pollution are not the only by-products of such increases. The projected increase in the volume of train traffic and rail related operations will result in more frequent blockages of the at-grade crossings in West Chicago, negatively impacting emergency vehicular access and resulting in longer emergency response times. It will also present a significantly greater risk of accident at those grade crossings traversed by West Chicago Community High School students walking to and from school.

     Additionally, train lengths will be much longer than current EJ&E train lengths and hazardous materials' traffic in West Chicago, north of the Union Pacific tracks would increase from the current 21 carloads per year to 265 carloads per year and 31 carloads per year to 301 carloads per year for the line south of the Union Pacific tracks.

     The City has asked that the Section of Environmental Analysis of the Surface Transportation Board include and incorporate the issues, concerns and comments of the City of West Chicago set forth in their Resolution in the scope of study for the draft, and the final, Environmental Impact Study (EIS) which may take between 6 - 18 months to complete. "We have sent a clear message to the Surface Transportation Board that this proposal is not in the best interest of our community," said West Chicago Mayor Michael B. Kwasman.

     Concerned citizens can submit written comments and have oral statements recorded for the public record until February 1, 2008; this information will be used by the Surface Transportation Board in developing the final scope of the EIS. Written comments should be sent to:

Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20423
Attention: Phillis Johnson-Ball
Environmental Filing
STB Finance Docket No. 35087

     Electronic comments may also be submitted by visiting the Board's website, www.stb.dot.gov, under the heading E-Filing. Please refer to STB Finance Docket No. 35087 in all correspondence, including E-filings, addressed to the Board. Additional information is available on the project website ( www.stbfinancedocket35087.com ) or the toll-free project information line (1-800-347-0689).