River Forest officials want to know why the number of Union Pacific Railroad freight trains idling on tracks through the village has increased and how railroad officials plan to remedy the situation.
Village President Cathy Adduci calls the idling trains “a nuisance that is not acceptable,” noting that the village has received “a significant increase” in reports of idling trains from residents.
“There must be consideration given by the railroad to our nearby neighbors,” she added.
Village Administrator Matt Walsh said complaints about idling trains have been “a fairly common occurrence for years” that has become a daily issue during the past two months.
“I am sure the friction has been around for decades, and I know that President Adduci and Eric Palm, former village administrator, worked diligently around 10 years ago to decrease idling during a time of increased concern,” he said. “It appears to increase cyclically, and we are trying to understand the reasons why and whether there are alternative locations.”
Adduci said she is seeking an in-person meeting with officials of the Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad, and also has requested assistance from U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Illinois 7th District), whose district includes River Forest. Davis helped mediate a dispute in 2019 between the railroad and River Forest officials and residents over the Third Rail Expansion project that impacted the village at that time.
Walsh said that Union Pacific officials have responded, and he is trying to find a date when both parties can meet.
“I did speak with their government affairs representative over the phone, and he did share that they were working with their operations team to use a different location to idle,” he said.
River Forest residents are not the only Illinois residents complaining about railroads in their communities.
In response to such complaints, legislation has been introduced in the General Assembly.
SB1513 would amend the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code to provide “that no rail carrier shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the unnecessary foreseeable idling of a diesel locomotive within 1,000 feet of a residence, business, school or hospital for a continuous period of time longer than 30 minutes in a manner such as to cause or contribute to a condition of air pollution.”
Adduci said village officials “will continue to monitor” SB1513.