Freight trains will add to congestion

To the editor: As a local resident, I can tell you that the congestion at the crossings at Cuba Road, Main Street, Route 14 (east and west) and Route 59 (north and south) in Barrington are already at intolerable levels when we have freight trains crossing. In addition, there are no alternative routes for east to west traffic for commuters, school buses or police and emergency vehicles, i.e. ambulances.

These are heavily used roads that also include the east-west ambulance route to Good Shepherd Hospital. The proposed increases would not only block all access for those of us trying to travel east-west for our jobs, commerce etc., but would in addition create a danger to the Barrington residents as well as surrounding communities.

I'm certainly not anti-commerce, but since the proposed increase in traffic would be to the direct economic benefit of CN Railways, and since they want "constructive dialogue" and wish to "listen to the community."

I feel they should pay for and complete the construction of trestles at these crossings before any freight traffic is increased.

Many in the community feel that they are not listening and not interested in our wishes. If that's the case and if they don't agree to "livable" compromises such as trestles or re-routing, I really doubt that they will be able to move trains through a community that doesn't want them.

Stephen Venditti

Deer Park