“While we have not had time to fully review this very lengthy document, we remain committed to serving as advocates for the more than one million residents who are negatively impacted by the proposed EJ&E acquisition by Canadian National.  This issue is of paramount importance to our communities which is evident by the record number of citizens turning out for community rallies and public hearings in addition to filings submitted to the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Just this week, residents from three more communities voiced their concerns in an overwhelming manner against this proposed acquisition whose sentiments are reflected by Commissioner Buttrey who indicated great concerns over this acquisition. We will continue to work with our leaders in Congress and the U.S. Senate during this timetable and we remain steadfast in our commitment to making sure that the economic and environmental implications of this transaction are weighed heavily against the self serving interests of a foreign corporation.”  

Excerpt from Commissioner Buttrey: “The Board must be very sensitive to the environmental issues being raised by local communities, and I am confident that these concerns will be fully explored and considered in the EIS being prepared on the schedule we adopt today.  I urge all interested parties to participate actively in this process.  At the end of the environmental review process, I will carefully consider the recommended mitigation conditions that are generated, and they will factor importantly in my decision-making process.  However, based on what I see now on the record, and what I saw when I recently visited the affected communities, it is hard for me to imagine how even the most far-reaching mitigation measures would be enough to offset or balance the environmental detriments that would flow from this proposal.”

What is TRAC?

TRAC (The Regional Answer to Canadian National) is a coalition of suburban communities that have joined forces to ensure the quality of life for their residents is not adversely impacted by this proposed acquisition. This bipartisan coalition was organized out of concern that significant issues related to public safety, environment, traffic gridlock, emergency response times and economic losses were not being adequately dealt with by Canadian National Railway (CN). TRAC includes municipal and county leaders from Lake, Cook, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will Counties along with northwest Indiana. Barrington Communities Against CN Rail Congestion represents the interest of Barrington area communities and is an active member of TRAC.