Economic Impacts Of Proposed Railway Purchase: Cn To Buy Ej&E

This study was commissioned by Chicago Metropolis 2020, a membership organization of leading area business and civic leaders, which sought to contribute a regional (and national) economic growth perspective of the proposed purchase. The U.S. DOT Surface Transportation Board will decide whether the purchase can occur and on what basis, using information from its own Environmental Impact Study (EIS), and documents submitted by public and private stakeholders.

EDR Group assessed the economic development impacts on an 8-county representation of the Chicago-metro area of CN's proposed purchase & operation of the EJ&E Beltway Railroad. The study (using the TREDIS model) examined the potential rail freight efficiencies for all Class 1 rail operators and their customers, including logistics costs for shippers, benefits to passenger rail (Metra), grade crossing implications (both safety & delay), the value of emissions changes, and the implications for future growth in container traffic to/through Chicago on the capacity and performance of the Chicago Rail Network. The study also addresses the national benefits that accrue outside Chicago regional economy.