CN providing cash to Lake Zurich for safety, noise-reduction work

Canadian National Railway will provide almost $2 million to Lake Zurich for safety upgrades, noise reduction and other measures deemed necessary because of an expected increase in freight trains the company runs through the village.

Village board trustees approved a memorandum of agreement Monday night stemming from concerns over CN's controversial purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern line, which runs in a semicircle from Waukegan to Gary, Ind. The company's EJ&E purchase was approved by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in December 2008.

Before the federal agency's approval, worries about CN's plan to boost freight traffic on the EJ&E were heard from Lake Zurich to Aurora. The Surface Transportation Board singled out 11 fire and police departments that could face significant train delays at crossings, including first-responders in Lake Zurich, Barrington, Bartlett and Mundelein.

In the agreement between Lake Zurich and CN, the village will receive the $1.96 million for noise control, safety fencing or improvements on public streets adjacent to the company's tracks. Residential neighborhoods, parks or schools could benefit from the work, according to the deal.

Village Administrator Bob Vitas said the deal is a good one for residents.

"I think the CN should be recognized for going a little bit above and beyond that which I saw in other agreements predating this one," Vitas said.

Lake Zurich has 90 days to give CN a specific preliminary plan for the nearly $2 million, along with criteria established for disbursement of any cash intended for private property owners. CN, which now has similar agreements with 19 other communities along the EJ&E, will send the cash to Lake Zurich within 30 days of receiving the plan.

Another part of the deal calls for CN to provide specialized training to Lake Zurich police and firefighters on handling calls that may result from freight train mishaps. CN must pay for tuition, transportation, lodging and meals related to off-site training attended by the firefighters and police.

Jim Vena, senior vice president of CN's Southern Region, said the company has made substantial strides in handling the potential effects of the EJ&E transaction on towns around the line through the agreements that have been reached.

"CN has been working productively with the communities having (agreements) with the company to address a broad range of issues, including safety," Vena said.

While Lake Zurich has overpasses at some busy locations such as routes 12 and 22, several other railroad crossings are at street level.

Some towns along the EJ&E fought the railroad merger and have filed lawsuits. The opponents argued it would lead to traffic problems, noise, hazardous waste spills and delays for emergency crews.