Residents can have say on sale of railway

Barrington-area residents worried about the possible takeover of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co. will have the chance next month to let federal officials know their concerns firsthand.

The national Surface Transportation Board has scheduled several meetings, including one in Barrington, to give residents affected by the sale a chance to voice their opinions.

In October, Canadian National Railroad began the process of trying to purchase EJ&E, which has a line that runs through the heart of the Barrington communities.

With the sale potentially adding dozens of trains through the area, the Barrington-area municipalities have banded together to make sure their concerns are heard.

On Jan. 9, the environmental analysis section of the transportation board will host a "scoping" meeting, which Barrington Village President Karen Darch said will give residents the chance to explain what the additional freight train traffic will mean to them.

"It is really important that people come out," Darch said.

The transportation board says the meeting will be held in an open house-style format. Those who attend will be able to ask questions about the proposal and the environmental review process, as well as discuss the potential environmental effects of the proposal.

Both oral and written comments will be accepted.

These meetings will help the transportation board identify what issues need to be further studied during the environmental impact study, which must be completed before the railway sale can be completed.

The sale has raised many concerns for the Barrington-area communities, including how the additional trains would affect traffic.

The EJ&E line crosses through the area on Ela Road, Cuba Road, Lake Zurich Road, Route 14, Route 59, Lake-Cook Road, Otis Road, and Penny Road, as well as crossing the Union Pacific tracks in the village of Barrington.

In its application, CN said it would use the acquired EJ&E railroad lines as a Chicago bypass route for all current and future freight traffic from its Canadian and U.S. rail network.

While the Barrington communities are worried about the sale affecting their day-to-day lives, other area towns could benefit from the deal.

CN officials predict 34 municipalities will see more trains, while 80 will see fewer.

In Cook County, towns near the North Central Metra line south of Vernon Hills could get about 17 fewer freights a day, CN officials said.

Besides the meeting in Barrington on Jan. 9, other meetings have been scheduled for other communities affected by the sale.

Meetings have also been scheduled for Jan. 8 in Mundelein, Jan. 19 in Joliet, Jan. 16 in Gary, Ind., Jan. 17 in West Chicago and Jan. 22 in Chicago.

For more information on the proposed sale, visit www.stb.dot.gov or call (800) 347-0689.

Canadian National/EJ&E Sale Open House

The Surface Transportation Board is hosting a meeting in Barrington to hear from residents on how the proposed rail line sale would affect them.

• When: 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 9

• Where: MaKray Memorial Golf Club, 1010 S. Northwest Highway in Barrington

• For more information: Visit www.fightrailcongestion.com, www.stb.dot.gov or call (800) 347-0689.