Frankfort, Ill., allots $1 million to reduce train noise

February 14, 2001 During the last eight months, Frankfort residents have spent more than $1 million on new landscaping, courtesy of the Canadian National Railway, the Southtown Star reports. And they're not done yet.

The railroad gave the
village $2.7 million to use to minimize train noise for village residents near
the former EJ&E rail line that CN acquired in December 2008. CN plans to
substantially increase the number of freight trains daily on the line.

During the May 3 village
board meeting, trustees approved disbursing $1 million from that
noise-mitigation account. Payments will be made to 300 homeowners – 180 of whom
live adjacent to the tracks and 120 who live nearby. The village allowed the
residents to design their own landscaping and hire their own contractor.

As for the remaining $1.7
million from CN, the village has begun another program to allow the same
homeowners to buy new windows, doors or insulation to further reduce train
noise.