Speak out against CN plan for EJ&E

The Canadian National Railway intends to purchase the EJ&E railroad, thereby increasing rail traffic through Lake Zurich as much as 400 percent. The impact on our community would be drastic - increased traffic congestion, train whistles all day long and dangerous delays for our police, fire and ambulance services. Congresswoman Melissa Bean immediately recognized the purchase's devastating impact on our 8th District. She pushed federal regulators into requiring an environmental review process that has been critical in getting our objections known. She rallied other members of Congress and got heavy hitters like Senators Obama and Durbin and House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar on our side. She's held forums and co-sponsored legislation to stop the deal. As mayor and village trustees, we want to thank Congresswoman Bean for her leadership and ask all citizens to step up to the fight. What the 10th District, our neighbors to the east, view as a gain for them is only temporary and comes at a huge cost for all the districts along the line. The current approval process fails to limit the amount of freight the CN can eventually move through any district. And, the CN plans to greatly increase its freight traffic in the years to come!

The short term benefit to Congressman Kirk's 10th District will vanish as the CN and others seek to push more freight through the region. Worse yet, current regulatory practices require the CN to pay only a token amount toward the public improvements that their operations necessitate. Those who support the CN in effect endorse a taxpayer subsidy for a foreign corporation.

Unfortunately, the CN uses the lure of short-term reductions in freight volumes for some districts to pit communities and elected representatives against each other. As railroads start to grow again, Congresswoman Bean recognizes that all legislators must protect the public by making the railroads pay for the infrastructure needed to prevent their freight from disrupting public transportation and endangering communities.

We encourage concerned citizens to write to the Surface Transportation Board and testify at upcoming meetings in Mundelein or Barrington. Letters and testimony must address the issues in the newly released draft environmental impact statement. Please check the Village of Lake Zurich Web site for details today. Your voices will make all the difference!

Lake Zurich Village President John Tolomei

Trustee Jim Johnson

Trustee Suzanne Branding

Trustee Tom Poynton

Trustee Steve McAvoy

Trustee Craig Taylor

Trustee Steve Callahan