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2008-310 r RESOLUTION NO. 2008- 31 A RESOLUTION COMMENTING ON THE DRAFT EIS AND EXPRESSING STRONG SUPPORT FOR PROMPT APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED PURCHASE OF THE EJ &E WEST COMPANY BY THE CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY COMPANY WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Buffalo Grove desire to comment upon the Draft Environmental Impact Statement ( "DEIS ") prepared by the Surface Transportation Board ( "STB ") Section of Environmental Analysis ( "SEA ") and specifically to express the Village of Buffalo Grove's continuing strong support for the proposed acquisition by the Canadian National Railway Company ( "CN ") of control of the EJ &E West Company ( "EJ &E ") and use of the EJ &E rail line to connect the existing CN lines in the Chicago metropolitan region, currently filed as STB Finance Docket No. 35087 (the "Proposed Action "); and WHEREAS, by Resolution 2008 -1, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Buffalo Grove expressed strong support for the Proposed Action as part of the Scoping Process initiated by the STB's Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS, specifically noting that the proposed acquisition would allow freight train traffic to be diverted away from the core of the metropolitan area and onto underutilized rail capacity around the perimeter of the Chicago region, thereby improving the surface transportation system for the region as a whole, and providing significant benefits to communities along the existing CN lines; and WHEREAS, having reviewed the information contained in the DEIS, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Buffalo Grove believe that any costs of the Proposed Action are outweighed by the aggregate benefits to the surface transportation system, the economy, the environment and the quality of life for the people of Buffalo Grove and the more than sixty other communities with a combined 4.1 million residents, which would now see fewer freight trains each day as a result of the Proposed Action; and WHEREAS, the Proposed Action will result in substantial transportation, environmental and economic benefits to the region and the nation by allowing CN freight trains to move more efficiently through the metropolitan area. It will be a major step toward unclogging our region's rail system, which will reduce shipping costs, spur investment and improve the economy. Efficient use of rail also offers an inexpensive way to improve the environment by reducing fuel consumption and airborne pollutants caused by the existing regional rail gridlock. Moving more freight by rail also helps to reduce highway congestion, enhances mobility, reduces the cost of maintaining roads and relieves pressure to build costly new roads. Moreover, CN's private investment would confer these benefits without the delay and public funding challenges associated with the nearly - dormant CREATE plan; and WHEREAS, the Proposed Action will result in significant improvements to safety and quality of life in Buffalo Grove. At present, CN runs the same twenty freight trains per day down the existing CN line that would be diverted to the EJ &E. Millions of people in towns that abut the existing CN lines stand to benefit from the reductions in congestion at crossings, decreases in train noise and improvements to safety, if the Proposed Action proceeds. In particular, the proposal will result in substantially less traffic congestion and delays at grade crossings — including those at Deerfield Parkway, Aptakisic Road, Half Day Road and Buffalo Grove Roads in our village, reductions in the overall number of accidents on existing CN lines and the combined system, decreases in highway congestion and delay at grade crossings along the existing CN lines, and significant reduction of train noise along the existing CN lines; and WHEREAS, the Proposed Action will advance the interests of environmental justice. For every nuisance which opponents claim will result from the rerouting of freight traffic to the EJ &E arc, there is a more than offsetting benefit for communities along the existing CN lines. Buffalo Grove and other communities along the existing CN lines, which have borne a disproportionate share of the burdens of our Page 1 of 2 i A' ` 0 region's economic activity, would see fewer freight trains each day as a result of the Proposed Action. In particular, minority and lower income communities and neighborhoods adjacent to existing CN lines, including several within the City of Chicago, would experience significant reductions in freight traffic, noise, congestion, and delay. The quality of life and transportation interests of those cities. towns and neighborhoods, and literally millions of residents who stand to benefit from changes resulting from the Proposed Action, are entitled to significant consideration; and WHEREAS, the rerouting of CN freight trains to the EJ &E as a result of the Proposed Action will free up track capacity for possible schedule enhancements and expansion of Metra's North Central Service. Necessary and long - overdue improvements to the Metra North Central schedule would address unmet demands for expanded weekday service and for the commencement of weekend transit, thereby improving the quality of life in the entire region, enhancing the utility and viability of the North Central Service and adding value to the substantial, federal, state and local investments which have been made to capital improvements for that line; and WHEREAS, the Proposed Action presents a rare and valuable opportunity to create a more efficient surface transportation system, not only for the benefit of the Village of Buffalo Grove, but for the entire region; and WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Buffalo Grove urge the SEA to complete preparation of the Final EIS as soon as possible and for the STB to issue a prompt, final decision approving the Proposed Action, with no more than reasonable and customary conditions. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, COOK AND LAKE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS that: Section 1. The Village of Buffalo Grove requests that the Surface Transportation Board approve as soon as possible the proposed acquisition of control of the EJ &E West Company by the Canadian National Railway Company, currently filed as STB Finance Docket No. 35087. Section 2. The Village Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this Resolution with the Secretary of the Surface Transportation Board, to be entered as part of the public comments applicable to STB Finance Docket No. 35087. AYES: 6 - Braiman, Glover, Berman, Kahn, Trilling, Rubin NAYES: 0 - None ABSENT: 0 - None PASSED: September 22 , 2008 ATTEST: Vill ge Clerk APPROVED: September 22 , 2008. APPROVED: Village President Page 2 of 2