CN signs agreements with two Illinois communities for safety enhancements

Canadian National has reached a voluntary mitigation agreement with the Village of Wayne, Ill., regarding its acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company and another agreement with the city of Joliet, Ill., to fund construction of a grade-crossing bypass that will improve vehicular traffic flows and enhance rail safety in the city's Forest Park area. With the Village of Wayne agreement, CN has VMAs with 82 percent of the 33 communities along the EJ&E in Illinois and Indiana. CN will provide the Village of Wayne funding for the creation of a quiet zone, noise and safety mitigation, communications and emergency response training. Jim Vena, CN senior vice-president, Southern Region, said: "CN is pleased to have reached this mitigation agreement with the Village of Wayne, marking the 27th VMA that we have signed with communities on the EJ&E line. The fact that CN has concluded VMAs with more than 80 percent of municipalities affected by the EJ&E transaction reflects a clear corporate commitment to work cooperatively with our line-side neighbors toward mutually acceptable mitigation outcomes. This leaves just six communities along the EJ&E without VMAs with CN. Should any of these remaining municipalities wish to explore mitigation agreements with CN in future, we would be more than pleased to enter such discussions." Joliet's $2.5-million bypass funded by CN will permit the closure of the Woodruff Road grade crossing, located just outside of Joliet Yard. Delays to motorists due to stopped and slow-moving trains needing to enter and exit the yard have long been a problem at this crossing and it has consistently experienced the highest number of crossing blockages since CN's acquisition of the EJ&E. The new bypass road will link the eastern portion of Woodruff Road and Collins Street, providing area residents a road connection that does not cross the CN tracks. The new road will also assist the efforts of the City of Joliet to promote the redevelopment of the old Joliet Prison/Collins Street Prison property, including the old prison structures as well as undeveloped land located east of Collins Street. Vena said, "CN has been working closely with the City of Joliet for the past three years on ways to lessen the impact on the community of our acquisition of the EJ&E. In fact, Joliet was the first city we reached a voluntary mitigation agreement with back in August 2008. "We are extremely pleased that our productive partnership with Joliet has produced a mutually beneficial road bypass agreement that will improve the quality of life of residents living near the Woodruff Road grade crossing, spur property redevelopment in the area and help improve the fluidity of CN's rail network in the Chicago area." Joliet Mayor Arthur Schultz said, "CN's investment in the new bypass road should assist us in kick-starting the redevelopment of the old prison property, which has been a key priority for many city stakeholders. We appreciate CN's innovation and community partnership in advancing such an important urban initiative."