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>From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C.
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The Surface Transportation Board is requesting feedback from Chicago-area
communities affected by the merger of Canadian National Railway with the
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co. The Board will also audit CN’s
informational reports that the railroad is required to file with the STB as
a condition of the merger.
The Board today is sending out questionnaires to elected
officials in the 33 communities in Illinois and Indiana
affected by the merger as part of its efforts to determine
whether CN’s compliance reports are accurate and complete.
The Board is asking about train noise and vibration, train
volumes and street blockages, vehicle delays and traffic
congestion at selected rail/highway at-grade crossings,
operational accidents, and identification signs at
crossings.
The Board has tasked an independent, third-party consultant,
HDR One Company of Omaha, Neb., to audit the informational
reports CN has provided the Board and follow up on concerns
raised in the questionnaire answers. The Board will receive
interim progress reports from HDR with a final report
scheduled to be completed by March.
“Today’s action is in direct response to the concerns voiced
by local community and elected leaders,” said STB Chairman
Daniel R. Elliott III, who has visited affected communities
twice since being appointed last summer. “The Board imposed
an unprecedented number of environmental and safety
conditions to mitigate the harm to local communities. The
oversight process offers a fair and transparent way to
assure that the railroad fully complies with these
conditions.”
The decision and conditions are included in the decision
Canadian National Ry. And Grand Trunk Corp.,-Control-EJ&E
West Co.,STB Finance Docket No. 35087. Documents are
available at www.stb.dot.gov. The Board has also set up a
Web site on the CN/EJ&E compliance and monitoring at
www.stbfinancedocket35087.com. The results of the
questionnaires and the other activities listed above will be
posted mid-February.
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