Rail plan is vital for growth in Illinois

The proposed acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company by CN, widely known as Canadian National Railway, has generated much interest. As supporters of the project, the Illinois Chamber has received inquiries expressing concern. For many, the likelihood of change brings uncertainty, legitimate problems and significant implications.

I am charged with promoting job growth and economic prosperity by offering a long-term view of policies pursued.

The Illinois Chamber supports the proposed transaction because of the tremendous need for continuous modernization of transportation networks critical to the state's economy. Chicago's bottleneck for vehicles, airplanes, freight and passenger rail is undeniable. Demand on rail service is expected to double in the next decade, but the system barely handles today's volumes. Infrastructure investment in Illinois is long overdue. Something must be done. CN's proposal is one element. The Illinois Chamber advocates for CREATE, an unprecedented collaborative program of federal, state, and local governments working with private railroad investment to increase capacity and efficiency in Cook County. We also support upgrades and expansion of RTA service, as well as enhanced Amtrak availability.

I am also a leader of the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, a coalition of more than 60 business associations, labor groups, civic organizations and others. Illinois can only keep its supremacy as a transportation hub through sustained, farsighted improvements in our transportation networks.

This is particularly true of Chicago's unmatched rail hub. Employment patterns identify transportation and logistics-warehousing as a top source of job growth. It remains a bright sector even as Illinois' unemployment figures stay among the nation's highest. A recent survey revealed transportation is the single most important factor in determining new job-related investments in Illinois.

We studied CN's proposal and conclude the acquisition would be beneficial. However, we acknowledge numerous matters require attention, including assurances that infrastructure investments along the EJ&E must accommodate track capacity, efficient signaling, future public transit needs, grade separations, safety and noise mitigation.

The silence coming from the state's transportation agencies to address concerns of communities along the route is disconcerting. Local officials and residents deserve immediate attention and satisfaction that concerns will be addressed. There should be no doubt traffic patterns can be mitigated to protect the health and safety of residents.

The Illinois Chamber recognizes access to transportation modes, from runways to highways to railways, has contributed to making Illinois great. The Chamber's mission is to promote prosperity and opportunity so employers will continue to thrive and employ our citizens. Freight rail congestion is real. Denying CN's acquisition won't resolve the issue.

The CN initiative presents an opportunity to move forward with infrastructure investments. The investments are huge and may well take over a decade to implement, but as Daniel Burnham demonstrated a century ago we should make no small plans when presenting a vision for a better future and seeking to inspire progress.

CN demonstrated time-honored principles of success. The company looked for alternatives, efficiency, innovation, capital investment and long-range planning to resolve its problem. We must adopt those same principals to ensure Illinois' future economic health. We neglect these responsibilities at our peril if we desire to restore economic vitality and promote a clean, modern and evolving economy in our state.

• Doug Whitley is President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.