Railroad Reform Discussed in Greater Grand Crossing
The second installment of public meetings for the Grand Crossing Rail Project began Monday at Grand Crossing Park District, 7655 S. Ingleside Ave.
The Grand Crossing Rail Project stems from the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program and seeks to reduce rail congestion on the South Side particularly in the Englewood and Greater Grand Crossing communities. The project hopes to overhaul Amtrak traffic that passes through these areas. The CREATE Program is an exclusive partnership between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), state of Illinois, City of Chicago, Metra, Amtrak, and freight railroads.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is also working with FHWA, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to find solutions for this effort.
Mondays meeting consisted of an open house where residents viewed an audio-visual presentation and project exhibits and agency representatives were on hand to answer questions.
The meetings objective sought to serve as a catalyst for public discourse on the project which will examine alternate, less congested routes that would enable Amtrak trains to travel directly into Union Station. This will reduce delays and congestion on Chicago's South Side.
While the intention of the meeting was to spur community input it led to a heated debate; possibly because the proposed initiative is still in its infancy stage and officials could not provide answers to many questions such as jobs, economic development and home displacement.
Residents grew restless when they did not receive definitive answers from project officials. Ald. Willie Cochran (20th Ward) sat in the audience with citizens for the duration of the meeting but voiced his concerns during the end.
The alderman was not happy with the vague responses from the projects representatives and said that they got to do a better job, of addressing concerns of the community.
Mike Harris, IDOT program manager told the Chicago Citizen that the agency does not have many concrete answers because the project is still in its planning stages.
One hot issue was the topic of home and land acquisitions for the proposed projects construction. The acquisitions may be necessary to make room for new tracks which will allow trains direct access into Union Station.
Depending on which design is selected for the project, some homes may have to be acquired by the state to make room for construction.
Harris said that the agency is unsure of how many homes will be affected because it depends on the type of plan that is selected.
Once a plan is selected --which more than likely wont happen until late 2013a method will be implemented to decide how many homes, if any, will be acquired.
Harris added that residents are not being offered money for their homes because there still isnt a decision on which plan will be utilized. Once a plan is decided on then citizens in affected areas will be notified. Moreover, Harris said a plan may be selected that will not require acquisition of homes.
Alderman Michelle Harris (8th) was also present at the meeting and said it was productive.
I think that anytime you give out information people have an opportunity to voice their concerns, the alderman said. These kinds of meetings are great and necessary. People can get their questions out, get their questions answered.
Jean-Paul Thomas, a resident told the Chicago Citizen that he believes the project has good intentions but more needs to be done to educate the public about its aspirations.
People who understand the project understand its significance, Thomas said.
Darlene Tribue, president of Park Manor Neighbors Community Council said she saw the meeting as a platform for discourse about the project. She added that residents who attended the meeting wanted to know their property was safe and secure from acquisition. Also, many citizens were concerned if the community would actually benefit from the project with jobs, contracts and other forms of economic development.
Its an opportunity for citizens to speak and truly look at this as a legitimate means of reaching out to a state agency saying that we want jobs, we want to work and we want to understand this project and that its not involving taking our homes from us, Tribue told the Chicago Citizen.
A second public meeting is planned for March 28 from 4:00-7:30 pm at Sherwood Park Field House, 5701 S. Shields Ave.
For more details on the initiative please visit. www.grandcrossingrail.com
By Thelma Sardin
Twitter: @thelmasardin
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