A Metra commuter makes her way to the station before catching a train in downtown Itasca on March 27. It’s been two years since U.S. Surface Transportation Board members approved Canadian Pacific’s acquisition of the Kansas City Southern, creating a railway that spans North America. As freight traffic increases, first responders are focused on troubleshooting possible blocked crossings to prevent 911 call delays.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com