SR0273 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0273 LRB096 12747 GRL 26490 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Many communities throughout the Chicago area have already begun experiencing public safety issues and serious traffic congestion due to the acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern (EJ&E) railroad by Canadian National Railway; and

WHEREAS, In Aurora, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Barrington Township, Bartlett, Deer Park, DuPage County, Hawthorn Woods, Lake Zurich, Naperville, New Lenox, Plainfield, and Wayne and Will Counties, along with other communities along the EJ&E line, Canadian National freight trains have been blocking critical roadways and creating a dangerous public safety situation for police, fire, and emergency vehicles; and

WHEREAS, Communities that have agreed to accept negotiated settlements from Canadian National are barred from publicly expressing public safety issues and other concerns surrounding Canadian National Railway's operations on the EJ&E as part of the terms of the agreements; and

WHEREAS, The federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) has the regulatory authority over railroad acquisitions and mergers and can assist these communities with this urgent problem; and

WHEREAS, The Surface Transportation Board's three-member governing body has a vacancy due to the departure of board member W. Douglas Buttrey in March of 2009; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge President Obama to appoint a new Surface Transportation Board member quickly; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we state our belief that this STB member should be someone who will take into consideration significant community impacts related to public safety, noise, vibration, traffic congestion, and other environmental concerns when evaluating railroad acquisitions and mergers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we further urge President Obama to choose someone for the STB seat who has extensive knowledge of transportation, freight, and shipping issues, as well as someone who can objectively weigh the benefits of railroad expansion against the infrastructure costs necessary to mitigate significant community impacts; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we also urge President Obama to choose a Board nominee who will consider population growth and economic impact when evaluating railway acquisitions, mergers, and other Surface Transportation Board regulatory issues; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we inform President Obama that the State of Illinois, including the Department of Transportation, will show preference in the programming of railroad funds and rail-to-road grade separation project funds to projects where the federal Surface Transportation Board has ordered a private entity to partially fund improvements necessary to mitigate impacts at significantly affected grade crossings; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent to President Obama, the Chicago-area members of the United States House of Representatives, the Illinois delegation of the United States Senate, and the members of the Surface Transportation Board.