Message From Illinois to Obama and Washington Lawmakers: Approval Process for Railroad Acquisitions Need Improvement
Lawmakers ask for stronger emphasis on community impact and funding reform for Railroad Transactions
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dozen of communities represented by The Regional Answer to Canadian National (TRAC) applaud the Illinois General Assembly for passing two important resolutions that they hope will lead to a shift in the way railroad transactions are approved in Washington.
The Illinois Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution (SR) 273, which asks that infrastructure improvement projects with private funding be given priority by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The STB mandated a series of mitigation measures, including two grade separations in high-traffic intersections. SR 273 further asks President Obama to appoint a community-minded member to a vacant Surface Transportation Board (STB) seat. SR 273 reads in part, "We state our belief that this STB member should be someone who will take into consideration significant community impacts related to public safety, noise, vibration, traffic congestion, and other environmental concerns when evaluating railroad acquisitions and mergers." The Chief Sponsor of SR 273 is Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), who represents communities that will be adversely impacted by the STB's decision last December to allow Canadian National Railroad to purchase the EJ&E Railway.
House Resolution (HR) 68 urges President Obama to support H.R. 693, The Reaching for the Star Act, which would fund a commuter rail line (STAR line) connecting nearly 100 suburban communities from Joliet to O'Hare. H.R. 68 further states that the "federal government should help fund infrastructure upgrades for communities impacted by mergers, such as the CN and EJ&E merger, that cause significant fluctuation in rail traffic for the health and safety of both the employees of the rail carrier and the local communities such as improvements to State, municipal, and county streets, grade crossings and commuter rail."
HR 68, sponsored by State Representative Darlene Senger (R-Naperville), overwhelmingly passed the Illinois House with a vote of 115-1 further signaling bipartisan solidarity to protect the interests of Illinois communities impacted by railroad transactions.
TRAC officials say the passage of these resolutions in a bipartisan fashion should send a strong message to Washington the current STB approval process for railroad transactions needs to be examined and amended to level the playing field on behalf of the residents who must deal with the 400% increase in traffic every day.
"We commend Senator Holmes and Representative Senger for elevating our cause in Springfield to ensure that our federal lawmakers continue to hear our concerns loud and clear," says Aurora Mayor and TRAC co-chair Tom Weisner. "This complements all of the work we have been doing over the past year and a half to raise awareness in Washington about the inequities with the current STB approval process."
"There is a serious disconnect between Washington and the states related to railroad acquisitions which is why we are pleased to see our state lawmakers reaching out to President Obama to try and fix a broken system," says Karen Darch, Barrington Village President and TRAC co-chair. "We are hopeful that President Obama and members of Congress openly receive these resolutions and begin taking steps to put communities on a level playing field."
SR 273 was co-sponsored by Senators Dan Duffy (R-Barrington), Randy Hultgren (R-Naperville), Chris Lauzen, (R-Aurora) and Pam Althoff (R-Crystal Lake). HR 68 was co-sponsored by Representatives Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein), Patricia Bellock (R-Westmont), Renee Kosel (R-Mokena), Randy Ramey, (R-West Chicago), Bob Biggins (R-Elmhurst), Suzanne Bassi (R-Palatine), Linda Chapa LaVia, (D-Aurora), Fred Crespo (R-Streamwood), Mike Connelly, (R-Naperville), Mike Fortner (R-Chicago), and House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego.
In December, the STB approved Canadian National Railroad's application to purchase the nearly dormant Elgin Joliet and Eastern Railway (which loops around Chicago) despite an unprecedented amount of opposition to the transaction. TRAC (The Regional Answer to Canadian National) is a coalition of suburban leaders that have joined forces to ensure the quality of life of more than one million residents in numerous Chicagoland communities is not adversely impacted by the CN/EJ&E acquisition. TRAC includes municipal and county leaders from Lake, Cook, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will Counties. For more information, visit www.fightrailcongestion.com
SOURCE TRAC (The Regional Answer to Canadian National)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dozen of communities represented by The Regional Answer to Canadian National (TRAC) applaud the Illinois General Assembly for passing two important resolutions that they hope will lead to a shift in the way railroad transactions are approved in Washington.
The Illinois Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution (SR) 273, which asks that infrastructure improvement projects with private funding be given priority by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The STB mandated a series of mitigation measures, including two grade separations in high-traffic intersections. SR 273 further asks President Obama to appoint a community-minded member to a vacant Surface Transportation Board (STB) seat. SR 273 reads in part, "We state our belief that this STB member should be someone who will take into consideration significant community impacts related to public safety, noise, vibration, traffic congestion, and other environmental concerns when evaluating railroad acquisitions and mergers." The Chief Sponsor of SR 273 is Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), who represents communities that will be adversely impacted by the STB's decision last December to allow Canadian National Railroad to purchase the EJ&E Railway.
House Resolution (HR) 68 urges President Obama to support H.R. 693, The Reaching for the Star Act, which would fund a commuter rail line (STAR line) connecting nearly 100 suburban communities from Joliet to O'Hare. H.R. 68 further states that the "federal government should help fund infrastructure upgrades for communities impacted by mergers, such as the CN and EJ&E merger, that cause significant fluctuation in rail traffic for the health and safety of both the employees of the rail carrier and the local communities such as improvements to State, municipal, and county streets, grade crossings and commuter rail."
HR 68, sponsored by State Representative Darlene Senger (R-Naperville), overwhelmingly passed the Illinois House with a vote of 115-1 further signaling bipartisan solidarity to protect the interests of Illinois communities impacted by railroad transactions.
TRAC officials say the passage of these resolutions in a bipartisan fashion should send a strong message to Washington the current STB approval process for railroad transactions needs to be examined and amended to level the playing field on behalf of the residents who must deal with the 400% increase in traffic every day.
"We commend Senator Holmes and Representative Senger for elevating our cause in Springfield to ensure that our federal lawmakers continue to hear our concerns loud and clear," says Aurora Mayor and TRAC co-chair Tom Weisner. "This complements all of the work we have been doing over the past year and a half to raise awareness in Washington about the inequities with the current STB approval process."
"There is a serious disconnect between Washington and the states related to railroad acquisitions which is why we are pleased to see our state lawmakers reaching out to President Obama to try and fix a broken system," says Karen Darch, Barrington Village President and TRAC co-chair. "We are hopeful that President Obama and members of Congress openly receive these resolutions and begin taking steps to put communities on a level playing field."
SR 273 was co-sponsored by Senators Dan Duffy (R-Barrington), Randy Hultgren (R-Naperville), Chris Lauzen, (R-Aurora) and Pam Althoff (R-Crystal Lake). HR 68 was co-sponsored by Representatives Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein), Patricia Bellock (R-Westmont), Renee Kosel (R-Mokena), Randy Ramey, (R-West Chicago), Bob Biggins (R-Elmhurst), Suzanne Bassi (R-Palatine), Linda Chapa LaVia, (D-Aurora), Fred Crespo (R-Streamwood), Mike Connelly, (R-Naperville), Mike Fortner (R-Chicago), and House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego.
In December, the STB approved Canadian National Railroad's application to purchase the nearly dormant Elgin Joliet and Eastern Railway (which loops around Chicago) despite an unprecedented amount of opposition to the transaction. TRAC (The Regional Answer to Canadian National) is a coalition of suburban leaders that have joined forces to ensure the quality of life of more than one million residents in numerous Chicagoland communities is not adversely impacted by the CN/EJ&E acquisition. TRAC includes municipal and county leaders from Lake, Cook, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will Counties. For more information, visit www.fightrailcongestion.com
SOURCE TRAC (The Regional Answer to Canadian National)
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