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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Many communities throughout the Chicago area have
3 already begun experiencing public safety issues and serious
4 traffic congestion due to the acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet
5 and Eastern (EJ&E) railroad by Canadian National Railway; and
 
6     WHEREAS, In Aurora, Barrington, Barrington Hills,
7 Barrington Township, Bartlett, Deer Park, DuPage County,
8 Hawthorn Woods, Lake Zurich, Naperville, New Lenox,
9 Plainfield, and Wayne and Will Counties, along with other
10 communities along the EJ&E line, Canadian National freight
11 trains have been blocking critical roadways and creating a
12 dangerous public safety situation for police, fire, and
13 emergency vehicles; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Communities that have agreed to accept negotiated
15 settlements from Canadian National are barred from publicly
16 expressing public safety issues and other concerns surrounding
17 Canadian National Railway's operations on the EJ&E as part of
18 the terms of the agreements; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The federal Surface Transportation Board (STB)
20 has the regulatory authority over railroad acquisitions and
21 mergers and can assist these communities with this urgent
22 problem; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, The Surface Transportation Board's three-member
2 governing body has a vacancy due to the departure of board
3 member W. Douglas Buttrey in March of 2009; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
5 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge President Obama
6 to appoint a new Surface Transportation Board member quickly;
7 and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That we state our belief that this STB member
9 should be someone who will take into consideration significant
10 community impacts related to public safety, noise, vibration,
11 traffic congestion, and other environmental concerns when
12 evaluating railroad acquisitions and mergers; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That we further urge President Obama to choose
14 someone for the STB seat who has extensive knowledge of
15 transportation, freight, and shipping issues, as well as
16 someone who can objectively weigh the benefits of railroad
17 expansion against the infrastructure costs necessary to
18 mitigate significant community impacts; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That we also urge President Obama to choose a
20 Board nominee who will consider population growth and economic
21 impact when evaluating railway acquisitions, mergers, and

 

 

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1 other Surface Transportation Board regulatory issues; and be it
2 further
 
3     RESOLVED, That we inform President Obama that the State of
4 Illinois, including the Department of Transportation, will
5 show preference in the programming of railroad funds and
6 rail-to-road grade separation project funds to projects where
7 the federal Surface Transportation Board has ordered a private
8 entity to partially fund improvements necessary to mitigate
9 impacts at significantly affected grade crossings; and be it
10 further
 
11     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent
12 to President Obama, the Chicago-area members of the United
13 States House of Representatives, the Illinois delegation of the
14 United States Senate, and the members of the Surface
15 Transportation Board.