A new agreement has been made that would divert more freight train traffic through Chicago area suburbs. Local communities upset about the increased traffic are expected to challenge the decision.
"Federal regulators have given a green light to Canadian National Railway's plan to divert freight traffic through Chicago's suburbs, a possible boon for the economy but potentially bad news for many suburban motorists likely to encounter delays at blocked crossings."
"The U.S. Surface Transportation Board unanimously approved on Wednesday CN's $300 million purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway. But in response to critics, the board imposed an unprecedented condition: CN must pay tens of millions of dollars to build two overpasses in Aurora and Lynwood."
"Approval means the Montreal-based railroad can turn the lightly used EJ&E into a rail superhighway, tripling or quadrupling the number of trains now running through suburbs from Mundelein to Joliet to Gary."
"The decision, which doesn't become official until Jan. 23, is expected to face a legal challenge from suburban opponents."
FULL STORY: U.S. signs off on Canadian National rail plan
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
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