Communities across the region will talk strategy and exchange notes on their opposition to Canadian National Railway's proposed purchase of the EJ&E Railway on Wednesday at Gary/Chicago International Airport.
Towns, cities and local business are concerned about the fact CN's takeover of the EJ&E would increase rail traffic threefold on some tracks, tying up traffic at rail crossings.
"The track (EJ&E) divides our community and adding traffic there would effectively shut down our efforts to be one community in Dyer," said Town Manager Joseph Neeb.
Those attending the 2 p.m. session will be briefed on a meeting conducted Friday between U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh and Surface Transportation Board chairman Chip Nottingham.
On that same day, the U.S. Department of Transportation urged the board to specifically consider the effect of the transaction on expansion plans for the Gary airport, according to a filing available on the board's Web site.
Also last week, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., asked the federal Surface Transportation Board to consider the effect of the acquisition on Illinois Amtrak service.
Durbin wrote to board chairwoman Anne K. Quinlan, telling her that if the purchase goes through as planned, it would eliminate a CN rail line critical to the operation of six daily Amtrak trains.
CN President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison quickly responded to assure Durbin that Amtrak operations would not suffer because of the proposed purchase. He also emphasized CN's plans benefits for the city of Chicago as a whole.
The Surface Transportation Board is conducting a scoping study for a full-blown environmental impact statement examining all aspects of CN's plans. In January, the board had hearings in six communities along the EJ&E. It also is conducting an economic analysis of the plan.
The federal agency has final say over whether the proposed acquisition goes through.
The Gary airport authority objected to CN's plan in a filing with the transportation board. The airport cites a lack of progress in years of negotiations on moving the EJ&E tracks, which sit at the west end of its main runway, blocking expansion.
The airport continues to negotiate with the EJ&E, but no agreement has been concluded, according to Airport Director Chris Curry. All four railroads involved in the negotiations have been asked to respond this week to a memorandum outlining what issues need to be resolved, Curry said.
CN has been a part of those talks and has pledged it will follow through on plans for moving the tracks once they are finalized, Curry said.
Airport officials had hoped to conclude an agreement earlier this year on moving the tracks and to have construction of new tracks under way already.
