Title
Resolution requesting the Surface Transportation Board deny the merger of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Kansas City Southern as currently proposed, and requesting conditions for any potential merger approval that include Metra being granted dispatch rights along with other appropriate mitigation measures that protect the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of Lake County's residents and businesses.
Staff Summary
* On October 29, 2021, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) filed an application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) seeking authorization from the STB for CP to acquire KCS.
* On March 15, 2022, the Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (Metra) filed STB Finance Docket No. 36500 opposing the merger.
* According to Metra's filing, CP's merger application data indicates freight train traffic will increase up to 380 percent on rail lines owned by Metra.
* The resulting increase in freight train traffic will have adverse impacts for Metra operations, create safety concerns of Metra's commuters, negatively impact the condition of the existing rail infrastructure, and could create unsafe and unfavorable conditions for surrounding communities and motorists in Lake County.
* CP, through a 99-year contract with Metra, currently controls freight and commuter train dispatching along the Milwaukee District-North Line in Lake County. Should the STB decide to approve the merger, Metra is requesting they be granted dispatch rights to control the allocation of track capacity over lines they own.
* Long-term impact monitoring (10 years minimum) and corresponding offsetting mitigation measures to adequately address any identified impacts should be a requirement imposed by the STB on CP as a condition of any merger approval.
* Required mitigation measures should include, but not limited to, rail infrastructure improvements, establishing railroad corridor quiet zones, constructing noise walls, ...
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