'The Frown On Downtown': Is BNSF Bringing Danger To Joliet?

JOLIET, IL — Burlington Northern Sante Fe railroad's website proclaims "BNSF strives to maintain strong relationships with the communities where our employees live." Joliet's chief of police and security officials at the downtown Joliet BMO Harris bank tend to disagree.

BNSF has created a dangerous safety hazard for employees and visitors coming to downtown Joliet, by choosing not to spend any money to mow its large berm behind the BMO Harris bank, according to bank security Jim Lanham, who will be a Joliet City Council candidate in April.

Lanham said the railroad did an excellent job in 2021, continually keeping the berm mowed, which is at least 100 yards long. By keeping the berm regularly cleared, transients and drug addicts can't lurk within the tall brush and the weeds, Lanham said.

The berm is directly across from MyGrain Brewing Company along East Jefferson Street.

This summer, Joliet's new police chief Bill Evans, who lives in downtown Joliet, said he was walking to a Joliet Slammers baseball game when he was startled to see a man stumbling out of the berm.

"The security at BMO has alerted us to hypodermic needles and alcohol hidden or stored in this location," Chief Evans told Joliet Patch's editor. "During the summer months, pedestrians walk directly adjacent to that area, headed to ball games at the park.

"We are trying to create a safer passage for the walking public who visit the branch and attend functions at the park."

Evans said he has talked with the BNSF railroad police, "and I was told that this situation will be addressed. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. This location is not only an eyesore to our community, but presents a public safety concern."

At 10:35 a.m. Wednesday, Joliet Patch contacted BNSF's corporate communications staff seeking comment.

"I am writing a story about a roughly 100-yard-long berm in downtown Joliet that is the property of the BNSF railroad. It was mowed regularly in the summer of 2021, but this summer it has never been mowed," Patch wrote to BNSF. "As you can imagine, many wild bushes /weeds are growing out of control. The Joliet Police Department also has not been impressed with BNSF over this matter because it's creating a dangerous safety hazard. Several people work at the BMO Harris bank right nearby, and there's a large parking lot right here.

"I am contacting you for comment or a response on this matter. Does BNSF plan to get this mowed? If so, when?"

Nobody from BNSF responded to Joliet Patch's request for comment Wednesday.

Incidentally, BNSF's berm on the other side of the railroad tracks, facing the Joliet Slammers stadium, has been regularly mowed all summer, Lanham said.

Lanham said he's been trying to get BNSF to clear the berm near his bank where he works all summer without success.

He said it's a known fact that the homeless and drug addicts often congregate inside the brush and weeds, often after the sun goes down.

In addition to empty liquor bottles and beer cans, Lanham said he's also discovered Altoids containers with heroin in them. He also said he found at least a dozen heroin needles on the BNSF's overgrown property.

"Why not make it nice like the rest of the downtown?" Lanham asked.

Lanham said his biggest fear is that one of the BMO employees, Metra rail commuters, Pace bus riders or a motorist using the drive-up teller window, will be the victim of an assault or a carjacking by someone lurking in BNSF's tall brush.

Lanham said practically all his safety concerns can be avoided if the railroad company went and hired landscaping services to remove the overgrowth and regularly maintain the berm.

Right now, much of the brush is at least 5 feet to 6 feet high.

"And it's a safety issue if someone ODs (overdoses) out here," Lanham said. "In the year since they last cut it, it's grown back over."

Lanham came up with the idea of labeling BNSF's property, "The frown on the downtown."

Related Joliet Patch coverage: Body Found In Downtown Joliet At Bus Depot