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91_SJ0051
LRB9112853DHmb
1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Trains in Chicago and throughout the suburbs
3 have created a nuisance and public safety hazard to
4 residents; and
5 WHEREAS, Residents of the southwest side of Chicago and
6 the south suburbs have been particularly plagued by problems
7 of trains blocking intersections for long periods of time and
8 the loud noises of trains that are a nuisance at night near
9 their homes; and
10 WHEREAS, In the case of trains blocking intersections,
11 some residents, such as those in Blue Island, are cut off
12 from public safety services for long periods of time because
13 trains are blocking the only entryway into their
14 neighborhood; and
15 WHEREAS, Congress has the authority to regulate train
16 horns and trains stalled in intersections and the authority
17 to pre-empt state and local governments in this area, but it
18 has delegated its authority to the Secretary of
19 Transportation; and
20 WHEREAS, The United States Code, Title 49, Section 20134,
21 gives the Secretary of Transportation the power to "develop
22 and carry out solutions to the railroad grade crossing
23 problem and measures to protect pedestrians in densely
24 populated areas along railroad rights of way"; and
25 WHEREAS, The United States Code, Title 49, Section
26 20153(e), specifically instructs the Secretary to "promote
27 the quiet of communities affected by rail operations" in
28 promulgating regulations, and the statute allows the
29 Secretary of Transportation to suspend the sounding of the
30 horn at railroad crossings if other, as effective, safety
31 means can be developed and demonstrated; and
-2- LRB9112853DHmb
1 WHEREAS, Section 20153(i) of Title 49 of the United
2 States Code instructs the Secretary to "work in partnership
3 with affected communities to provide technical assistance
4 and...a reasonable amount of time for the local communities
5 to install supplementary safety measures, taking into account
6 local safety initiatives (such as public awareness
7 initiatives and highway-rail grade crossing traffic law
8 enforcement programs)"; therefore be it
9 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL
10 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
11 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, That we petition the
12 United States Secretary of Transportation to invoke this
13 authority to prevent trains from blocking intersections,
14 because the blocking of intersections poses safety hazards to
15 residents and vehicles; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Secretary of
17 Transportation to adopt regulations to protect residents from
18 the nuisance of train noise and not to allow trains to blow
19 their horns in "quiet zone" areas, and we urge the Secretary
20 to develop alternative safety measures to supplant the use of
21 the horn, such as helping to fund grade crossings and
22 footbridges; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the United States Secretary of
24 Transportation should convene soon a meeting of residents,
25 local elected officials, and the railroad to address these
26 concerns of residents of the southwest side of Chicago and
27 the south suburbs; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent to
29 the United States Secretary of Transportation and to each
30 member of the Illinois congressional delegation.