The cause of rail congestion relief saw a significant milestone on January 31 when the EJ&E transaction officially closed and CN assumed ownership of the railway. Solutions to Area Rail Traffic (START) supported the EJ&E transaction as it will greatly help reduce rail congestion that has plagued the Chicago region for decades. At a time of scarce public resources, the EJ&E transaction represents a private investment in the transportation infrastructure which benefits the public at large.

While the EJ&E transaction is a positive step in the right direction, much work still remains to fix the rail transportation problems that face the Chicago region. The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) must receive funding that recognizes it as a regional and national priority. In the coming weeks and months, START intends to partner with other transportation and civic organizations for a common approach to regional transportation and will continue to publicly advocate for long-overdue solutions to the Chicago region’s transportation problems.