Fighting CN plan will take all of us
We are small people opposing the Canadian National railway.
So how do we fight that big, arrogant company that tries to intimidate us, abuse our rights and wants to make us pay for the privileges they demand to be granted?
Further, since they are not happy with the speed of our governmental approval process. they want expedited hearings claiming that an extensive environmental review will prejudice the outcome of the surface transportation board evaluation and threaten their acquisition of the EJ&E.
Neither our village, the other communities affected, the state of Illinois or the United States will derive a benefit from increased rail traffic on the EJ&E if it is sold to the CN.
Their claim that it will relieve rail traffic in Chicago is unfounded. Any abrogation by CN will rapidly be augmented by the other rail services in Chicago.
Currently only two or three freights and no passenger trains run on the EJ&E line on a given day. CNR proposes increasing the usage to 30 freights a day.
That impact on the villages along their right of way is horrendous, potentially increasing delays by a factor of 10.
We will be house-bound, and retail in your village will disappear.
Your children who walk to school will face heightened risks to their safety, increased air pollution and noise pollution will destroy your way of life.
And try to sell your house --would you move here knowing these facts?
The arrogant CEO of CN says the problems can be circumvented by constructing overpasses and underpasses at the 134 grade crossings. He is willing to pay 3 or 4 percent of the realistic estimated cost -- he wants the community to foot the remaining bill -- $13 billion. The CEO says we are selfish for opposing his plan.
So get involved. They depend on our apathy and defeatist attitudes. If we assume "we can't fight city hall" we surely will validate that prophecy.
We can do it -- you can help. Write your opinion to the editors of newspapers; ask your governmental representatives to formulate a plan of action and to make it public.
Stephen M. Harrison
Barrington