CN Railroad's possible rerouting around the city (Chicago, Cicero: sale, homes)

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

This re-route is important to the entire region, and the NIMBYs in Barrington are getting hysterical with their apocalyptic claims.

I agree with you that this issue is bringing out local hysteria which is potentially more damaging than the trains, themselves.

Having said this, there are 3 crossings within the Village of Barrington. Given the length of trains is reportedly in excess of two miles, crossing would be simultaneously impossible at all three points , 20 times a day.

The roads( Rt 14, Lake-Cook and Ela) at these crossings are single lanes. The congestion issue cannot be appreciated without looking at a map and /or seeing it first hand.

Getting to the closest hospital from anywhere in the Village, parts of Barrington Hills, Inverness and Deer Park, in an emergency, would be severely compromised.

The greater Barrington area resides in the 60010 zip code and is about 100 square miles in 4 different counties with numerous townships and local municipalities. The Village of Barrington was formed in 1865 in the same era as EJ&E. Until very recently, much of the inner village was rental.

BTW, The Village of Barrington is about as middle class as it gets. The majority of Mc Mansions are in South Barrington, North Barrington, Lake Barrington and of course Barrington Hills. Most of these areas have have alternative routes.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

I agree with Lookout Kid and Sukwoo fully.

+2. We should all share in the increased rail traffic, north shore included. My home is between the CN line and the Santa Fe line and we've got too much rail traffic now. Seems I'm always stuck by a train these days. I don't agree that the majority of folks in Barrington, et al are objecting to this. I think most will be happy to do whatever they can to alleviate inconvenience to those living in the more diverse communities. You're just hearing a vocal minority. I say go with it!

[cdc3217]

As a resident of a trainhub suburb, the local inconvenience is significant. The trains do not follow local ordinances designed to limit the time they spend blocking intersections. There are places where emergency vehicles are truly blocked by stopped trains. Then the city fines the train company, and it is booked as a cost of doing business. So the community outcry is meaningless, because any promises train companies make, they will break willingly.

I understand in my case, rail traffic was here first, and the whole situation has a "You can't stop progress" feel to it - but I don't blame residents for raising a ruckus.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by BRU67

+2. We should all share in the increased rail traffic, north shore included. My home is between the CN line and the Santa Fe line and we've got too much rail traffic now. Seems I'm always stuck by a train these days. I don't agree that the majority of folks in Barrington, et al are objecting to this. I think most will be happy to do whatever they can to alleviate inconvenience to those living in the more diverse communities. You're just hearing a vocal minority. I say go with it!

The overwhelming majority of folks in The Village of Barrington are indeed opposed to it. The three major roads through town will be blocked by a 2 + mile train crossing, 20 times a day.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

The overwhelming majority of folks in The Village of Barrington are indeed opposed to it. The three major roads through town will be blocked by a 2 + mile train crossing, 20 times a day.

We have three major roads that are also blocked (Harlem, Oak Park and Ridgeland), and increasingly so with a higher volume of rail traffic. The burden should be equally distributed. And you guys should be more than happy to do your part. I don't get this

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

The overwhelming majority of folks in The Village of Barrington are indeed opposed to it. The three major roads through town will be blocked by a 2 + mile train crossing, 20 times a day.

And I can't wait to see the uppity Village of Barrington lose this battle, as they have no argument to stand on. If I see that annoying mayor on TV one more time I'm going to have to fight back some vomit. The anti-CN ideas have been bouncing around the Barrington incubator with great fervor, but the residents of that fine village have no clue that the majority of Chicagoland is against them, and that they have no legal precedent to block this sale.

[JerichoHW]

Heres where I sound mean, but people need to stop crying about CN. They own these lines, so why can't they do what they want with them, it's not there fault people knowingly moved into a house near train tracks. I live rigth down the street from the CN offices, and main train terminal. I do not cry about it, and do little protests. Come on Barrington, don't be babies.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

And I can't wait to see the uppity Village of Barrington lose this battle, as they have no argument to stand on. If I see that annoying mayor on TV one more time I'm going to have to fight back some vomit. The anti-CN ideas have been bouncing around the Barrington incubator with great fervor, but the residents of that fine village have no clue that the majority of Chicagoland is against them, and that they have no legal precedent to block this sale.

You 'cant wait to see it'. You must 'hold back vomit'. I wonder why such a young man could be so pzzed so often. Do you hate your life or something? Can there not be opposition from people whos lives are greatly affected without such vile scorn coming from someone who seems to have a bug up the behind about an entire HUGE community. The 'uppity' are not the majority.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by JerichoHW

Heres where I sound mean, but people need to stop crying about CN. They own these lines, so why can't they do what they want with them, it's not there fault people knowingly moved into a house near train tracks. I live rigth down the street from the CN offices, and main train terminal. I do not cry about it, and do little protests. Come on Barrington, don't be babies.

So if people object or voice an opposing opinion they are 'babies'. Strange, thought this was what Americans do and have always done.

[cubssoxfan]

What was traffic like on this line going back through its history. If there was significantly higher traffic in the past, then it is a case of poor village planning based on an assumption of traffic staying low. If it always was low, and now for the first time there is a huge increase in traffic, then I think the towns along the way have a legitimate complaint. It would be similar to someone living near a small local airport that never had commercial traffic. You know it's there and you have researched its impact on your quality of life before choosing to live there. Now, all of a sudden, the airport gets approval for commercial traffic and starts bringing in large jets, very frequently what are you able to do? Your home value deteriorates and your quality of life does too. This is not like building an expressway, where the plans are usually made decades before being built and you can discover these plans before purchasing a home.
Maybe they can put train restrictions in, with real enforcement capabilities, similar to the flight restrictions at busy airports. Example, no trains in the middle of the night, no more than 12 trains a day, trains must be an hour apart. A true compromise.