City of West Chicago Reinforces Position Opposing Railway Acquistion

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Sample Letter for use to voice opposition.

June 25, 2008: West Chicago, IL - The City of West Chicago reinforced its vehement opposition to the proposed acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway ("EJ&E") by the Canadian National Railway Company ("Canadian National") by passing a Resolution at the June 16, 2008 City Council meeting which authorized Mayor Michael B. Kwasman to execute an intergovernmental agreement to participate in a formal coalition that opposes the acquisition which is currently pending before the United States Surface Transportation Board. The Regional Answer to Canadian National ("TRAC") is a coalition of many units of local government in the greater Chicago metropolitan region which share serious concerns with respect to the adverse public health, safety, welfare, environmental and traffic impacts of the proposed acquisition and change of control of the "EJ&E" by the "Canadian National."

"TRAC" will establish a framework in which to focus and articulate shared concerns on the issues and to implement cooperative efforts to address such concerns. An earlier Resolution passed in October, 2007 by the City of West Chicago outlined the staggering statistics related to the projected increase in freight train traffic posed by the possible acquisition. According to estimates provided by Canadian National, 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. Canadian National 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 track.

Mayor Kwasman feels strongly that impacted city leaders have a duty to their constituency to become involved and that joining forces through an organized effort will send a strong message to the Transportation Board. "The City of West Chicago recognizes the negative consequences that such an acquisition poses to our immediate residential and business communities, as well as for future economic development prospects and overall quality of life. We have a responsibility to voice our objections."

Residents are encouraged to seek more information about the proposed acquisition by visiting the Surface Transportation Board's website at www.stb.dot.gov or by calling 1-800-347-0689, and to make their concerns about the acquisition known to the Board and to Representative Bill Foster.

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Sample Letter - .doc - 29k may be personalized with individual concerns and or experiences. It should be directed to the Surface Transportation Board and copied to West Chicago's Congressional representative at the addresses provided below.

Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20423

Attention: Anne Quinlan, Acting Secretary Environmental Filing STB Finance Docket No. 35087

Representative Bill Foster
27 North River Street
Batavia, IL 60510