Illinois USA - In a short amount of time 324 suburbanites, and others from throughout the Midwest, voiced almost universal displeasure with a proposed railway merger that would increase freight traffic in the West and Northwest suburbs.
 
"I live 200 yards from the track as it is," Itasca resident Mark Savignani wrote on a public comment site that will be read by the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB), which has final say over the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific (CP) and the Kansas City Southern (KCS).
 
"I say, hell no."
 
Residents along the Milwaukee District/West rail line, which goes through Roselle, Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Schaumburg, Itasca, Wood Dale, and Bensenville, submitted feedback to the STB's website with comments ranging from concern to outright objection.
 
Residents from other Illinois towns, such as Wheaton and Genoa, and states, including Iowa and Missouri, also voiced their concerns.
 
"It is already hard to get a good night sleep without being awakened by trains blowing their horns in the wee hours of the morning. I am sick and tired of that situation, and increasing the number of trains passing through Elgin will make the matter worse," Elgin resident Luiz Perez said.
 
Roselle officials say the merger would bring three to five more freight trains daily.
 
That, they say, will affect grade crossing safety and cause delays to motor vehicle traffic and emergency services, decrease air quality, and increase noise.
 
"Having freight train traffic up by 300 percent coming through our small town of Roselle is totally unacceptable. Our downtown area is congested enough already. We don't need any more noise and traffic congestion," resident Vicki Little writes.
 
In late 2021, CP purchased KCS for US$31 billion, including debt.
 
"It directly impacts the quality of life. The intersection of Irving and Roselle will become a mess, and it is so close to the heart of Roselle. This is a terrible idea and we are completely against it," Schaumburg resident Nancy Elkin said.
 
CP is one of Canada's two major railroads, extending across the country and connecting East and West Coast ports in Montreal and Vancouver, respectively.
 
In the U.S., CP connects to Buffalo and Albany, New York, and Searsport, Maine, and runs south into the Midwest and connects with KCS in Kansas City, Missouri.
 
If approved, it would be the first railroad system in history to operate simultaneously in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
 
Many residents in these towns already believe freight trains are a burden to their communities and adding more would be far worse.
 
"The train blockages by our neighborhood are already unbearable with 15 to 20 minute wait times, usually. I've watched numerous ambulances, fire trucks, police cars sitting stopped at the tracks dozens of times over the years, and to know that the freight train traffic will double makes me sick to my stomach," Bartlett resident Thomas O'Connery said.
 
The deal needs the approval of the STB, which has said it expects to have a decision by the fall.
 
If granted, integrating railroad services is expected to take three years to complete.
 
Many mayors and other local leaders have given statements as well, including Hanover Park Village President Rodney Craig, who said that the additional freight traffic could hurt the area's desirability and significantly harm the village's economy.
 
"It's been great to see the community participate in the process and highlight their concerns," Roselle Mayor David Pileski said.
 
Trey Arline.