MUNDELEIN – A resolution sponsored by State Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) urging Congress, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to address safety concerns that result from trains blocking railroad crossings in municipalities for lengthy periods of times unanimously passed the House Railroad Safety Committee in Springfield on Thursday.

Representative Sullivan’s resolution, HJR 94, comes in response to mounting local concerns regarding Canadian National Railroad’s proposed acquisition of the E J & E rail line serving Lake County, which stretches from the Barrington area through Deer Park, Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods, Mundelein, and Libertyville all the way to Waukegan.

Canadian National has estimated an increase in freight traffic on this line from 5 to 20 additional freight trains per day. Representative Sullivan introduced HJR 94 amidst concern that such a dramatic increase in rail traffic would have a serious detrimental impact on local communities; including significantly increased delays on already congested roads, public safety concerns regarding the type of freight being carried on the trains, as well as potentially life-threatening delays of emergency response vehicles by increased rail traffic.

“While our railroads are essential to commerce, we need to strike a reasonable balance between the demands of freight traffic and the needs of families and commuters that live in the affected communities,” Rep. Sullivan said. “Ensuring the safety of our families must always remain our first priority.”

HJR 94 now goes to the floor of the House of Representatives to await a full vote.