By reaching a mitigation agreement with Long Grove, Ill., late last week, Canadian National Railway has come to terms with 23 of the 33 municipalities along the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway, many of whom expressed concern or outright opposition to CN’s acquisition of the latter.

Under CN’s agreement with Long Grove, CN will provide funding to Long Grove for maintaining a quiet zone as well as safety training. Long Grove lies northwest of Chicago.

The Surface Transportation Board approved the acquisition on Dec. 24, 2008, with conditions, and CN began operating over the EJ&E early in 2009. But several municipalities, forming the umbrella group The Regional Answer to Canadian National (TRAC), filed an appeal of the STB’s decision. While opposition and the organization still exist, CN’s step-by-step approach to the situation appears to be slowly outflanking those still protesting the acquisition.