Spokesman vows EJ&E purchase will ease train traffic
(The following story by Tony Bertuca appeared on the Pioneer Press website on September 11.)
DES PLAINES A representative from Canadian National Railway promised the Des Plaines City Council Sept. 2 that a proposed $300-million bid to purchase Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co. would decrease train traffic in town. That's despite concerns expressed earlier by Des Plaines' mayor that any relief would be short-lived.
The deal is being evaluated by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, and public meetings are being held to discuss how communities would be impacted by the purchase. The board is expected to make a ruling in December.
Des Plaines has 140 railroad crossings every day. If the CN and EJ&E deal were to be approved, Des Plaines would see 17 fewer crossings.
Mayor Tony Arredia invited CN spokesman Jim Kvedaras to make a short presentation last week amid opposition from other towns, like Barrington, who say the deal would increase their train traffic.
Arredia said he wanted Kvedaras to address three questions: Will the purchase negatively effect Metra's plans for the STAR Lines; will the decrease in train traffic be short-lived; and will Des Plaines see any money from CN with regard to grade improvements?
"We will cooperate with Metra," Kvedaras said. "There have been lots of allegations but we will not oppose the creation of the STAR Line."
Kvedaras also said CN's projections to 2015 do not show an increase in train traffic through Des Plaines. "We don't plan to dump additional traffic on the lines," he said.
Arredia and Alderman Laura Murphy asked whether CN would help Des Plaines straighten the S-curve along Northwest Highway in exchange for the council's support.
Because the S-curve sits below an area where three railroad tracks converge, it has been blamed for falling debris and damage to cars. An attempt was made to stabilize the bridge several years ago, but costs have delayed the project.
Murphy also mentioned the fact that CN gave money to Joliet for track improvements in exchange for the community's support for the deal.
"Obviously, you're looking for our support," she said. "In Joliet, you were willing to make concessions."
But Kvedaras said the situation was different in Joliet because that community would see an increase in train traffic as a result of the deal, unlike Des Plaines. He also said the S-curve project is an Illinois Department of Transportation project, not a railroad-company concern.
Arredia said he planned to send a request in writing to CN with regard to the city's S-curve request, but was not optimistic. He also tempered his support for the project with concern for neighboring communities that vehemently oppose it -- despite his doubts that those communities would extend similar courtesy to Des Plaines.
"Des Plaines is happy," he said. "But we got to make sure we don't do anything negative to our neighbors. Even though I don't know that that's equally on their minds (regarding Des Plaines)."
