Griffith Tot Park no small problem for Canadian National Railway

BY KEITH BENMAN, Times of Northwest Indiana
kbenman@nwitimes.com

GARY | Two Griffith women at a federal hearing Wednesday night summed up the problem with Canadian National's plan to purchase the EJ&E by pointing to one small park in Griffith called Tot Park.

"And now Canadian National railroad wants to increase those hazards that are passing by our children, our parks and our senior citizens by four times," said Cheryl Satkus, who lives on North Indiana Avenue, just a stone's throw from the EJ&E tracks and the park.

The Griffith woman said she had watched as carloads of hazardous materials went past the park and couldn't imagine the dangers Canadian National's proposal for a four-fold increase in such shipments would hold for the town.

Judi Schoon, who lives on nearby Lake Street, also referenced Tot Park, saying she has seen police shoo small children from beneath trains stopped along the park's east edge.

Schoon, who has three diabetic children, said she wants emergency responders to have immediate access to her home. But with all three fire houses on the west side of the tracks, and her home on the east, that just won't be possible with the proposed increase in rail traffic.

The two women's comments summed up the difficult decision facing the Surface Transportation Board.

The three-member board in Washington, D.C., must decide if the railroad deal passes muster when it comes to competitive issues and the overall effect on the nation's transportation system. But it also must take into account the effect on the environment, including public health and safety.

Wednesday night's hearing by the board's Section of Environmental Analysis involved comments on its draft environmental impact statement for the proposed rail merger.

Of 22 witnesses testifying, Canadian National Vice President for Service Mike Mohan was one of only two testifying in direct support of the transaction.

He pointed out that communities like Munster and Highland will benefit from the proposed deal, with far fewer trains coming through their communities.

He also said the railroad wants to enter into voluntary agreements with communities on measures to mitigate any negative effects.

"What I want to emphasize this evening is that CN is committed to addressing legitimate environmental concerns related to train increases," Mohan said.

Gov. Mitch Daniels had testimony read by aide Ann Valentine, in which he called for the Surface Transportation Board to require Canadian National to mitigate at its own expense any unsafe conditions or road congestion caused by its plans.