Freight Congestion-- CN and EJ&E Merger

I am a member of the Suburban Transportation Commission a bipartisan group founded by Congressman Mark Kirk and Congresswomen Melissa Bean. Recently railroad company CN has proposed to purchase the EJ & E freight line which would pump nearly 30 freight trains a day through the Barrington area, and throughout the region.

While I am opposed to the purchase for a variety of reasons, the one that will resonate with Round Lake residents is that if the merger is completed and improvements and safety upgrades to the 100's of at grade intersections are made this will deplete transportation funds from other needed projects, such as one of our areas favorite, the 120 bypass!

There are many other reasons to oppose this, many of them are listed on this excellent website. The video above is from the public information hearing the Suburban Transportation Commission held in Lake Zurich a few weeks ago, and while I had a small speaking part (not in this video) I think Congresswomen Bean articulates the case very well.

NOTE I am having problems posting the video so the link to it is here.