If you're one of those Glen Ellyn residents having trouble sleeping because of freight trains rumbling along the Union Pacific tracks, there may be some relief in sight.
Union Pacific officials appeared before the Village Board on April 26 to outline plans for improvements they say will speed train traffic along.
"We're doing something significant to eliminate this process," Union Pacific Public Affairs Director Tom Zapler said of the habit of trains stopping and idling at all hours of the night.
Speaking in front of the board and about 30 residents who live close to the tracks, Zapler and General Superintendent David Giandinoto laid out plans to make improvements to their operations that will give residents some relief.
Union Pacific runs from 50 to 60 freight trains per day through Glen Ellyn. The noise problem comes primarily from trains idling during the times they are stopped by congestion from Metra commuter trains, Union Pacific officials said.
While the problem is worst during morning and evening commutes, residents have complained that weekends are a problem as well.
Using locomotives on both ends of the train, a measure that increases fuel efficiency but also produces more noise, compounds the problem.
Union Pacific is partnering with Metra in series of initiatives that are designed to reduce downtime to enhance public safety, reduce delays by 50 percent and grade crossing downtime by 11 percent.
Two high-speed crossovers, one in Wheaton and the other in Lombard, will be installed at the railroad's expense, which will get a grant from the Illinois State Commerce Commission to defray costs.
With no other crossovers between Elmhurst and West Chicago, trains have no ability to switch from one track to another to avoid bottlenecks.
Village President Mark Pfefferman asked why the problem persisted on weekends when there was little in the way of Metra commuting.
"We tend to run more trains," Giandinoto said.
Trustee Carl Henninger pointed out that westbound trains were a problem, particularly in the area near Park Boulevard.
Zapler seemed surprised by that assertion.
Residents peppered the Union Pacific representatives with questions.
"We have seen a significant increase in train traffic," Gina Meyers said, noting that the noise problem was aggravated by the rear engines. She also asked if Union Pacific had plans to install a fourth track in Glen Ellyn.
"We have no plan whatsoever," Zapler said.
Anne Akamatsu noted that the railroad's own policies called for shutting down locomotives after 15 minutes of idling and asked, "How do you enforce them (the policy)?"
Free Book "Make Real Money on the Internet" from world’s #1 internet wealth advocate Absolutely free!
Claim Your Free Copy!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment