Public Comment Period Extended for CSX Legal Action

The City of Chicago and Village of Evergreen Park initiated legal action last month accusing CSX Transportation for violating federal requirements.

CSX Transportation Inc. operates the Elsdon Line, which runs through Blue Island and Mt. Greenwood, and loops west through Evergreen Park over 95th Street, and Kedzie and 94th Street.

• Also on Patch: Chicago, Evergreen Park Want Feds To Fine CSX for Blocked Crossings, Train Parking

Residents have complained of ongoing public safety and quality of life, including blocked grade crossings due to stopped trains or malfunctioning gates and train parking too close to residential areas.

As part of the process, the Surface Transportation Board is soliciting public comments about these issues. The deadline to submit comments has been extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March. 9.

Citizens living or working near Evergreen Park or the Beverly-Mt. Greenwood area, who haven’t already done so, are encouraged to share their CSX train experiences with the STB.

When submitting comments, please consider the following guidelines:

• Comments should be submitted via email to CSX@the19thward.com before March 9, 2016 and must reference STB Docket # FD35522

• All comments should be addressed to: Cynthia Brown, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E. StreetSW, Washington, DC 20423-0001.

Comments should be as specific as possible. Statements like "I have been stopped on five separate occasions in the past month" are stronger than "The gates are down all the time."

Also, residents are asked to explain what specific impact these problems have had on your life (i.e. have you been late for work, dropping a child off at school, or missed a doctor's appointment).

Please share this message on social media.