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BY PAUL CZAPKOWICZ
Times Correspondent | Thursday, September 11, 2008 | (No comments posted.)
SOUTH HOLLAND | A large crowd on Wednesday night packed the South Holland Community Center for a public meeting regarding the Canadian National Railway's proposed acquisition of a portion of the EJ&E Railway that now belongs to U.S. Steel.
The meeting was hosted by a group called Solutions To Area Rail Traffic, or START, on whose board South Holland Village President Don De Graff serves as chairman.
START supports the $300 million transaction as a way to decrease rail traffic in many local communities by rerouting trains farther south and west and onto the EJ&E line.
"We would see a decrease in trains from 22 a day to three," De Graff said.
That comment drew applause from the crowd that was overwhelmingly supportive of the purchase.
Lansing Village President Dan Podgorski also voiced his support and said that Lansing would see a decrease in train traffic similar to the one South Holland would experience.
Residents approached the microphone and gave a number of reasons why they support a reduction in train traffic, including pollution and safety concerns, noise and the blocking of emergency vehicles.
"You've got to plan your day around the trains, which is really ridiculous," said Don Hutson, a 20-year resident of South Holland. "The only way you can go to not hit a train is to go through Thornton."
Leonard Cannata, of the West Central Municipal Conference, coordinated the meeting on behalf of START and told residents their comments would be forwarded to the Surface Transportation Board in Washington, D.C., which needs to approve the transaction.
People also can call the Surface Transportation Board at (800) 347-0689 to share their views.
Cannata said seven of the eight hearings that took place throughout the Chicago area were in communities that are against the transaction, and that residents in communities such as South Holland have not had much chance to make their feelings known.
Cannata said about 60 communities would see train traffic decrease because of the transaction, while about 30 would see an increase along the EJ&E line.
A decision on the proposed acquisition is expected sometime between December and early 2009.
"The acquisition would significantly improve rail operations within Chicago and ease the congestion in the region," Cannata said.
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