Is CN acquisition tip of the iceberg?
Usually people don't fault business growth and development. Progress though at the purposeful expense of others in any manner logically creates concern. The CN's stealth pursuit to acquire the EJ&E generates this kind of hesitation. Their pushy, indignant, litigious attitude has been unsettling. Opponents that rebuke Barrington citizens as self-important, self-serving folk curiously avoid mocking communities like Mundelein who share the same justifiable concerns. Perhaps they see our local government has already thrown us under a train in exchange for shallow mitigation promises and thus realize their efforts would be in vain considering the differences between our town's economic makeup versus Barrington's. How altruistic. That Barrington has a local government that's committed to it's businesses' and residents' well-being by responsibly preparing an organized opposition is commendable.
Resurrection of the rail industry once crippled by government hubris is a solid answer to energy and transportation costs which hopefully will benefit consumers in the long run. It will also make private railroad owners similar to past railroad barons more wealthy. Will the same wealth hating opponents mock them too? It's unfortunate that development occurred along rail lines with promises there would be little use or they'd become defunct.
What's missing from the CN's bull in a china shop approach to acquisition is a believable appearance of commitment to stewardship. Citizens don't appreciate hearing the impact of increased freight traffic will be nominal. It's insulting; akin to being told the check's in the mail or this won't hurt, you know? Even before the CN had STB approval, newspapers ran tallies of the CN's race to negotiate agreements with towns. It was clear the CN was confident of STB approval ahead of time. Threats of litigation without approval should have been red flags to unsuspecting local governments in their path. Did the CN utilize unfair advantages in "persuading" towns to negotiate given the intent of their threats? The sentiment of one local Mundelein politician to myself was that the village felt "compelled" to negotiate or possibly be shut out of mitigation remedies. It was better to get something rather than nothing, she wrote. It's possible other rail lines might use the EJ&E/CN line. The CSX railroad already has a "short line partnership" with the EJ&E. It's unknown whether this partnership would be grandfathered in with the CN purchase. Similar agreements would allow other rail companies expanded usage rights in addition to train congestion we're poised for from the CN. The CSX has been pursuing growth, developing a new $80 million intermodal hub in northern Ohio. They intend to increase double-stacked cargo rail traffic to Midwest destinations through Chicago possibly on the EJ&E. This is commerce that passes through towns like Mundelein and Barrington not bringing commerce to us. This is part of the $700 million National Gateway Project which will enhance the development and redevelopment of rail lines. Lease agreements like this will create more headaches; any profit should be used for mitigation stewardship.
What guarantees do towns really have?
Sarah Powers
Mundelein