EJ&E Quiet Zones on the Horizon

Noisy train whistles coming from the EJ&E rail line in south New Lenox could be silenced as soon as six months from now.

In Decemeber 2010, the Village Board approved a deal with Canadian National Railway that will give New Lenox quiet zones, landscaping and safety mechanisms for one of its rail lines at no cost.

The board dotted the I's and crossed the T's to plans during its Monday meeting, setting in motion a process to install safety mechanisms and provide for quiet zones along the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway line, which runs through the the south part of New Lenox.

During its meeting, the board approved various contract and intergovernmental agreements necessary to move forward.

Each municipality that uses the Lincolnway Communications Center will receive $700 from Canadian National to purchase computer equipment that will provide the ability to track where trains are on the tracks, allowing the 911 call center to effectively direct emergency responders to avoid trains at crossings.

The board also approved a contract with Christopher Burke Engineering to prepare engineering plans for the installation of safety devices required for railroad quiet zones. The contract is $35,000, but that will also be covered by Canadian National.

Finally, the village also approved intergovernmental agreements with New Lenox Township and Will County because four of the five EJ&E crossings are not in village territory. The agreements state that the village may have delineators installed at those crossings and New Lenox will maintain them.

More From the Meeting

• The board approved the annexation of a home in the 200 block of West Wood Street, owned by Trinity Services, that serves as a group home for up to six developmentally disabled adults.
• The village will purchase two new squad cars for the . The cars are new models with emergency lighting equipment directly installed, and also deliver at least 20 percent more fuel efficiency. The two cars cost a combined $58,408, for which the village had already budgeted. There was $10,400 allocated for lease two vehicles in the 2011-12 budget.