Bean, Kirk host open house on rail sale

Suburban residents will have another chance next week to tell lawmakers how they feel about the proposed sale of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co.

The Suburban Transportation Commission, established by U.S. Reps. Melissa Bean and Mark Kirk, is holding an open house in Lake Zurich Monday on the sale.

Bean spokesman Jonathan Lipman said the informational meeting will allow people to learn more about the sale from local legislators. It's planned for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lake Zurich High School's Performing Arts Center, 300 Church St.

Informational posters and diagrams from the Surface Transportation Board will be set up around the room and handouts on the evaluation process will be available. Both Bean and Kirk are scheduled to attend.

Residents will also have the chance to submit written statements on what impact the sale will have on them. They'll be forwarded to the Surface Transportation Board as part of its environmental impact study.

Comments are being accepted through Friday. Those interested also can submit online at stb.dot.gov. Click on the "E-Filing" link.

Canadian National proposes a $300 million acquisition of the EJ&E, which runs in an arc from Waukegan to Gary, Ind., through Lake, Cook, DuPage and Will counties.

CN plans to make the line a bypass route for freight traffic from its Canadian and U.S. rail network. Company officials say that would benefit the Chicago region as a whole.

For more on the sale, visit a special Web site set up by Surface Transportation Board: stbfinancedocket35087.com.