In 2012, CSXT filed an application to acquire the Grand Trunk Western Railroad and Elsdon lines from Canadian National (CN) Railway. Our communities (Evergreen Park) received NO funding for noise abatement for constituents severely and negatively impacted by noise and vibrations. This is not acceptable. Evergreen Park did NOT sign the Mitigation Settlement Agreement.
According to the ICC, who managed the funds, funds were made available to mitigate noise in Barrington and other communities. It was intended to reduce the negative impacts to communities along the EJ&E Railroad when it was acquired by the CN Railway in 2012. The grant came from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). ICC received $1.948 million which was then turned around and awarded smaller grants to 8 communities, including Barrington ($327,600). Barrington had about 60 properties that used the money to replace windows and do some similar sound proofing, see attached. Congressman Dick Durbin made this happen.
It is important that the community contact your elected Congressman or congresswomen and insist that our communities (Evergreen Park) are negatively impacted by the Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) and we need the funding allocated to our communities.
This week I was advocating for Evergreen Park and surrounding towns at a “Constituent Services” session hosted by Congressman Bobbie Rush. I was told that unless other people have the same issue and come forward, they will not take any action. Here is your opportunity to tell them about your personal noise issues in an attempt to get funding.
US Representative Bobbie Rush in an email said he secured more than $20 MILLION in funding for TRANSPORTATIAON and INFRASTRUCTURE projects in the 1st District in the INVEST in America Act, which is being considered on the House Floor this week. View the list of projects here.
US Senator: Dick Durbin: 312-353-4952
US Senator: Tammy Duckworth: 312-886-3506
US Representative: Bobbie Rush – Transportation Representative: Mary L Datcher: 773-779-2400, Mary.Datcher@Mail.House.Gov
Please share this petition: https://www.change.org/FreightTrainVibrationsNoiseandDieselFumesImpactsHealthandCausesDiseases
Let's do this together! Change only happens when we all participate and get involved.