New Lenox Rail Sense

(Press Release from the Village of New Lenox) 

By Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Will County Board Chairman Jim Moustis and Village of New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann

We applaud the recent news of the Illinois Commerce Commission opposing the EJ&E Railway acquisition by Canadian National (CN) Railway. As the most respected authority on rail issues in Illinois, the ICC clearly understands the direct negative impact it will have on hundreds of thousands of people. While some have decided to give in to this transaction, Will County and the Village of New Lenox continue to vehemently oppose the measure.

Our resistance to the $300 million purchase of nearly 200 miles of track by CN has everything to do with the incredibly negative environmental impact it may have on our citizens. This issue can be spun in many ways to justify the acceptance of such an enormous change in our environment. Some have said we don’t have a legal leg to stand on, but the record of facts and legal proceedings say just the opposite.

Read the rest of this entry »

December 25, 2008 / BY SUSAN DEMAR LAFFERTY / Neighborhood Star

New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann is ready to appeal the U.S. Surface Transportation Board’s approval of the Canadian National Railroad’s purchase of the EJ&E tracks.

“I am disappointed that the private interests of a foreign company would take precedent over the impacts on the citizens of this region,” he said Wednesday.

While neighboring communities have made deals with CN to mitigate safety and noise issues, New Lenox sent the railroad a counter-proposal last week seeking “substantial funding” for an overpass at one of its five railroad crossings. Overpasses are estimated to cost between $15 million and $30 million, Baldermann said.

Read the complete article

December 25, 2008 / By BOB OKON / Joliet Herald News

Federal regulators Wednesday approved Canadian National Railway’s plan to the dismay — but not surprise — of many local officials. Canadian National can now move forward with the $300 million acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway line.

But while local officials are disappointed that CN was not required to pay more to ease the impact on road congestion, the railroad company said it will review the decision in light of additional costs imposed by regulators.

Read the complete article

December 23, 2008 / by Michael Gilbert / New Lenox Patriot

Requests fully funded quiet zones; money for overpasses

New Lenox sent a counteroffer to Canadian National Railway less than a week after village officials agreed not to accept the rail company’s mitigation plan over the proposed purchase of the EJ&E Railroad, Mayor Tim Baldermann said.

The village’s counteroffer, which was submitted Friday, Dec. 19, asks Canadian National [CN] to fully fund quiet zones and equipment that would allow emergency responders to know which of the village’s five crossings are blocked. The village is also asking CN to contribute funds to pay for overpasses or underpasses to alleviate some of the traffic delays expected if the rail line does increase the number of freight trains in New Lenox from six per day to 30.

Read the complete article

December 18, 2008 / BY WILLIAM LEE / The Neighborhood Star

New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann hopes by the end of the week to have a counteroffer for the Canadian National Railway in its bid to buy the EJ&E Railroad line.  Baldermann Monday asked the New Lenox Village Board for suggestions for the village’s counter to CN’s offer to pay for some mitigation measures as part of the EJ&E deal that will drastically increase freight train traffic in town.

Read the complete article

December 16, 2008 / BY WILLIAM LEE / Southtown Star

New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann asked village trustees Monday night to give their best suggestions for a counteroffer to a Canadian National Railway plan that would drastically increase freight train traffic in town.

At the village board meeting, Baldermann said he hopes to forward the suggestions to CN by the end of the week. He thanked residents for their enthusiastic participation in what he called an emotional debate that would affect the village’s quality of life.

Read the complete article

December 10, 2008 / By KIM SMITH / Joliet Herald News

NEW LENOX — What track the village should take when it comes to Canadian National’s acquisition of the EJ&E Railway will be the topic of a special town meeting on Saturday. New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann traveled around town with CN officials Monday morning, showing them what an increase of six to eight trains a day would do to the traffic flow.

Read the complete article

December 9, 2008 / BY SUSAN DEMAR LAFFERTY / Southtown Star

Railroad official says problems are common, don’t warrant action

New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann literally tried to drive home the point that the Canadian National Railway will divide his growing village in half with its proposed increase in freight traffic.  If New Lenox doesn’t get a rail overpass, “we’ve got problems,” Baldermann told Mike Mohan when he took the CN vice president on a road trip Monday morning.

Read the complete article

December 7, 2008 / By SUSAN DeMAR LAFFERTY / Sun-Times News Group

NEW LENOX — It seems to village leaders that the Canadian National Railroad is dividing and conquering its opposition.

First Joliet signed a deal, now Frankfort is in the talking stages.

CN wants to buy the EJ&E tracks to create a bypass around Chicago and quadruple the number of freight trains. The plan has been strongly opposed by a coalition of communities known as TRAC — The Regional Answer to Canadian National, of which New Lenox and Frankfort are members.

Read the complete article

December 4, 2008 / By DUAA ELDEIB / Joliet Herald News

Canadian National Railway’s plan to purchase EJ&E Railway and divert to it a substantial amount of freight traffic would translate into $267 million in the nation’s gross domestic product — of which Chicago region’s gross regional product would increase by $60 million — a study released Wednesday stated.

The findings left New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann asking one question: “Is it going to boost the economy of New Lenox?” he said. “If it’s going to boost the economy in Chicago, that doesn’t do a whole lot for me.”

Read the complete article