TRAC Lists Problems with Environmental Impact Statement
One of the groups formed to fight the acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E) by Canadian National Railway, The Regional Answer to Canadian National (TRAC), has made public a list of flaws the group sees with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement released by the United States Surface Transportation Board.
The group, which is made up of a number of communities that have the EJ&E rail lines transiting through their neighbourhoods, have listed twenty points of argument and or disagreement with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that the STB have released, the group preparing for a number of public hearings that are scheduled to take place throughout the affected region in the coming days and weeks.
The document(*), while covering varying issues does identify the increased utilization of the EJ&E Lines associated with the number of level crossings on the EJ&E rail network as a major area of concern for TRAC and the communities affected.
TRAC had previously expressed reservations about the increased congestion at level crossings, with issues from worries over community safety to the potential hindrance to first responders, both issues making an appearance in TRAC’s list of objections to the DEIS.
The potential cost to communities of constructing grade separation crossings to mitigate these risks, also appears to be a bone of contention between TRAC and the STB, with TRAC flatly accusing the STB’s Section of Environmental Analysis of not adequately determining whether Federal and State Governments could or would contribute to mitigation efforts, given that the DEIS has suggested that Canadian National need only finance up to fifty per cent of the required mitigation costs.
TRAC continues to actively oppose the proposed acquisition of the EJ&E railway by Canadian National, without a comprehensive environmental review of the proposal as well as the implementation of adequate mitigation measures.