Dupage Policy Journal

State Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Bloomingdale) is expressing her disappointment over the announced merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railways. 

Dismayed by the Surface Transportation Board's approval, Sanalitro said that the effects of the merger would "reverberate throughout communities in the 48th District, with the number of freight trains projected to reach eight or more per day." She said she is "determined to stand with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in outspoken disappointment in the approval of this merger.”

"The decision to approve this merger is disappointing," Sanalitro said in a press release. "The increased frequency of freight trains poses risks to our communities and threatens emergency response times from first responders who may find their paths blocked by trains at road crossings.”

Canadian Pacific will shell out $31 billion to see the merger through, NBC 5 Chicago reported. The railroads are the nation’s smallest. The merger is expected to result in 14 more trains per day running from Chicago to Laredo, Texas. Those protesting the move argue that the Surface Transportation Board did not take into consideration concerns for traffic delays in Illinois communities the railroads run through. 

“I believe this merger would compromise the critical effectiveness of our paramedics, EMTs and firefighters, and the health and livelihood of those who need timely response,” Camanche Fire Chief Dave Schutte said in a letter to regulators. 

A group of suburban communities calling themselves the "Coalition to Stop CPKC” are banding together in protest and in an attempt to stop the merger. 

The group includes mayors in Bartlett, Bensenville, Elgin, Itasca, Hanover Park, Roselle, Wood Dale, and Schaumburg, as well as parts of DuPage County. Itasca Mayor Jeff Pruyn said the coalition is "extremely disappointed and dumbfounded at the Surface Transportation Board's decision today." The group vowed to not simply accept the decision and is putting in effort to reverse it. 

The municipalities of Addison, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elk Grove, Hanover Park, Itasca, Medinah, Roselle, Schaumburg, and Wood Dale in the suburban areas of DuPage and Cook counties are included in Sanalitro's House District 48.