The Coalition to Stop CPKC is extremely disappointed at the Surface Transportation Board’s decision today. They blatantly ignored our concerns for the safety and quality of life of our residents and the negative consequences on economic development in our communities.

The STB has just approved a 400% increase in freight rail traffic throughout our eight communities and DuPage County. This will greatly harm our first responders' duties to save lives and endanger the welfare of all residents.

To completely alleviate all potential harms in our communities, the Coalition estimates it would cost nearly $9 billion. By prioritizing necessary mitigations, we were able to pare down our request to the bare safety essentials that would benefit all communities to $400 million. This total includes train tracking technology, pedestrian gates at crossings, preservation and establishment of quiet zones, implementation of noise and vibration abatement measures, and equipping local first responders with hazmat resources.

Today, this $31 billion merger was approved, with our communities receiving very little help.

Without the diligent work of this Coalition, we might not have received the seven-year oversight that was established today, but what is that going to do when our ambulances cannot get around downed crossing gates and someone loses a life?

We are extremely disappointed that the Board completely dismissed our reporting method. We stand ready to prove to the STB that our numbers are accurate and that Canadian Pacific blatantly underestimated their assumptions.

Across the country, everyone is watching what happened in East Palestine, Ohio—and no one is watching more closely than our communities.

We were stunned to hear the Chairman say, “CP was not running the train in East Palestine. If it were, maybe it would have been a reason to re-examine.”

The Chairman also said that the STB has limited authority and safety is not in their purview. We are here to join in support of the national request for Congressional hearings.

We will continue to fight for our 300,000 residents and businesses, and people traversing through our communities.

Today, economics was chosen over safety. We are reviewing all our options, including legal ones.

Responses from the coalition and elected officials at our press conference can be viewed on Facebook Live.