07.25.22
In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the negative impacts the merger would have on Chicagoland’s communities and commuter rail operations.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8) and Marie Newman (D-IL-3) today sent a letter to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Martin Oberman urging the STB to oppose the Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad merger as proposed because of concerns about noise pollution, blocked crossings, safety conditions, and commuter rail delays.
“We write to express our concern about the impacts of the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad on our local communities in Illinois. The proposed merger will reportedly more than triple freight rail traffic on the CP rail line that runs between Bensenville and Elgin, Illinois. We are concerned this increase will have significant impacts on noise, emergency response time, commuter rail operations, the environment, and pedestrian safety. We oppose the merger as currently proposed, and we urge the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to give our concerns all due consideration as you review the proposed merger and consider potential mitigation and oversight measures,” the lawmakers wrote.
In their letter, the lawmakers stressed that the proposed merger would significantly impact Chicagoland’s already highly-trafficked railways. Because Illinoisans in the Chicago suburbs rely on commuter trains like Metra to reach the city daily, adding another rail line could significantly increase delays for those traveling for work. As residents have made this clear to their local officials, more than 11 Illinois communities have already filed comments opposing the proposed merger.
“The proposed merger will have significant impacts on communities in Illinois, with CP projecting the merger could add between eight and 11 freight trains per day on its tracks that run through Chicago’s western suburbs…Since CP’s initial filing, Metra and a coalition of Illinois communities—including DuPage County, Bartlett, Bensenville, Elgin, Itasca, Hanover Park, Roselle, Wood Dale and Schaumburg—have filed comments with the STB opposing the merger as currently proposed,” the lawmakers continued.
In urging a reconsideration of the merger, the lawmakers called on the STB to sit down with Illinoisans to hear their concerns directly about the merger.
“We oppose the merger as currently proposed because of these impacts on our communities. We urge you to fully consider the community concerns as you evaluate the merger and to provide strong, comprehensive mitigation and oversight measures, if necessary, to address the merger’s impacts. In addition, we encourage the STB to come to Illinois to hear directly from impacted communities as you consider this merger. Input from local communities will help contextualize and supplement the STB’s forthcoming Environmental Impact Statement, which we are eager to review,” wrote the lawmakers.
“We appreciate your attention to this important issue and look forward to continued dialogue with the STB on behalf of our constituents,” they concluded.
A copy of the letter can be found here and below:
July 25, 2022
Dear Chairman Oberman,
We write to express our concern about the impacts of the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad on our local communities in Illinois. The proposed merger will reportedly more than triple freight rail traffic on the CP rail line that runs between Bensenville and Elgin, Illinois. We are concerned this increase will have significant impacts on noise, emergency response time, commuter rail operations, the environment, and pedestrian safety. We oppose the merger as currently proposed, and we urge the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to give our concerns all due consideration as you review the proposed merger and consider potential mitigation and oversight measures.
CP and KCS have filed an application with the STB seeking authorization for CP to acquire KCS. The $31 billion proposed CP/KCS merger would create the only continuous railroad system running from Mexico to Canada. However, the proposed merger will have significant impacts on communities in Illinois, with CP projecting the merger could add between eight and 11 freight trains per day on its tracks that run through Chicago’s western suburbs. The merger would also increase freight traffic on tracks that connect downtown Chicago with O’Hare International Airport. Since CP’s initial filing, Metra and a coalition of Illinois communities—including DuPage County, Bartlett, Bensenville, Elgin, Itasca, Hanover Park, Roselle, Wood Dale and Schaumburg—have filed comments with the STB opposing the merger as currently proposed.
The safety and livelihood of our Illinois communities must be a top priority as the STB considers this merger. Local residents, emergency response teams, and elected officials have voiced serious concerns about the impacts of increasing the number of freight trains running through their communities. In addition, Metra has expressed concern that the merger could cause a significant increase in delays to commuter rail.
We oppose the merger as currently proposed because of these impacts on our communities. We urge you to fully consider the community concerns as you evaluate the merger and to provide strong, comprehensive mitigation and oversight measures, if necessary, to address the merger’s impacts. In addition, we encourage the STB to come to Illinois to hear directly from impacted communities as you consider this merger. Input from local communities will help contextualize and supplement the STB’s forthcoming Environmental Impact Statement, which we are eager to review.
We appreciate your attention to this important issue and look forward to continued dialogue with the STB on behalf of our constituents.
Sincerely,
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