Kane transportation committee calls EJ&E report a 'joke'

Kane County Transportation Committee members let off a little steam during their first meeting since the final environmental impact statement of the acquisition of the EJ&E Rail line by Canadian National came out earlier this month.

Committee members drafted a carefully worded resolution earlier this year urging Canadian National to lay down some serious money for road improvements that would route traffic around, over or under what is expected to be a dramatic increase in train traffic if the acquisition goes through. Kane County would have few options to fund the costly road improvements without Canadian National helping with the bill, setting up a situation where the company controls the fate of traffic delays wherever tracks cross major streets.

"That was our fear, that, ultimately, they'd get whatever they wanted," said Chairman Bill Wyatt. "It appears they did."

The final draft would have Canadian National paying only 15 percent of the cost for two road improvements at major problem spots. One is on Ogden Avenue in Aurora. The other is on Lincoln Highway in Lynwood.

"That's ridiculous," said Committee Member Gerald Jones, from Aurora. "They're going to spend 15 percent on two bridges about 60 miles apart."

The federal Surface Transportation Board can make a decision on the pending acquisition at any point now. Once it makes the call, appeals may be filed within 20 days of that decision. Kane County officials didn't see much hope given how their pleas were answered in the recent report.

"It's pretty much a joke, I think," said Committee Member John Hoscheit. "They pretty much ignored all the concerns we had."

However, there may be some hope in the fact that Canadian National has reached agreements with several communities on an individual basis in recent weeks to address some of their concerns. Frankfort and Hoffman Estates are the most recent municipalities to find common ground with Canadian National. Most of those agreements involve sound walls and other noise reduction measures. Kane County wants more costly help in building under and overpasses.