Bill Text: IL SR0273 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Urges President Obama to fill the vacancy on the Surface Transportation Board with an appointee with extensive knowledge of transportation, freight, and shipping issues quickly; and informs the President that the State of Illinois, including the Department of Transportation, will show preference in the programming of railroad funds and rail-to-road grade separation project funds to projects where the federal Surface Transportation Board has ordered a private entity to partially fund improvements necessary to mitigate impacts at significantly affected grade crossings.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2009-05-30 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) [SR0273 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-SR0273-Enrolled.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 273
WHEREAS, Many communities throughout the Chicago area have
already begun experiencing public safety issues and serious
traffic congestion due to the acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet
and Eastern (EJ&E) railroad by Canadian National Railway; and
WHEREAS, In Aurora, Barrington, Barrington Hills,
Barrington Township, Bartlett, Deer Park, DuPage County,
Hawthorn Woods, Lake Zurich, Naperville, New Lenox,
Plainfield, and Wayne and Will Counties, along with other
communities along the EJ&E line, Canadian National freight
trains have been blocking critical roadways and creating a
dangerous public safety situation for police, fire, and
emergency vehicles; and
WHEREAS, The federal Surface Transportation Board (STB)
has the regulatory authority over railroad acquisitions and
mergers and can assist these communities with this urgent
problem; and
WHEREAS, The Surface Transportation Board's three-member
governing body has a vacancy due to the departure of board
member W. Douglas Buttrey in March of 2009; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL

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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge President Obama
to appoint a new Surface Transportation Board member quickly;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That we state our belief that this STB member
should be someone who will take into consideration significant
community impacts related to public safety, noise, vibration,
traffic congestion, and other environmental concerns when
evaluating railroad acquisitions and mergers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we further urge President Obama to choose
someone for the STB seat who has extensive knowledge of
transportation, freight, and shipping issues, as well as
someone who can objectively weigh the benefits of railroad
expansion against the infrastructure costs necessary to
mitigate significant community impacts; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we also urge President Obama to choose a
Board nominee who will consider population growth and economic
impact when evaluating railway acquisitions, mergers, and
other Surface Transportation Board regulatory issues; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That we inform President Obama that the State of
Illinois will, to the greatest extent possible, give
consideration in the programming of railroad funds and

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rail-to-road grade separation project funds to projects where
the federal Surface Transportation Board has ordered a private
entity to partially fund improvements necessary to mitigate
impacts at significantly affected grade crossings; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent
to President Obama, the Chicago-area members of the United
States House of Representatives, the Illinois delegation of the
United States Senate, and the members of the Surface
Transportation Board.