MOUNT GREENWOOD — A recent conference call with the chief operating officer of CSX Transportation Inc. had an all too familiar ring to it, according to some local lawmakers.
Cindy M. Sanborn participated in the teleconference 1½ weeks ago that was arranged by U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-3rd) — the most senior member from Illinois on the federal transportation and infrastructure committee.
Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th), state Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18th), state Rep. Fran Hurley (D-35th), state Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th) and James Sexton, mayor of suburban Evergreen Park, were also on the call that focused on rail traffic on the Far Southwest Side.
Lipinski touted the meeting on Friday at a panel discussion at Saint Xavier University in Mount Greenwood, saying some of significant improvements had been made.
But others participating in the phone call weren't as impressed, saying CSX has offered up similar solutions in the past yet problems remain with slow-moving trains, downed crossing gates and trains parked on the tracks for hours while blocking traffic, according to Cunningham and O'Shea.
"We have been down this road before," Cunningham said Monday.
Cunningham did give Lipinski credit for arranging the call with Sanborn and other CSX top brass. Officials with the Jacksonville, Fla.-based rail company said one of the biggest problem trains had been rerouted to avoid the area.
This train was said to stop on the tracks on a weekly basis while waiting for space to open up in an adjoining rail yard, Cunningham said.
As luck would have it, the conversation with CSX also took place just days after crossing gates at 95th Street in Evergreen Park were stuck down for two hours without a train in sight, Lipinski said.
Upon learning of the problem, Sanborn investigated and learned the issue was due to damaged electrical components. The gate was then "hard wired," which aims to prevent such incidents in the future, an official with Lipinski's office said.
"I would say it's progress, but it is nothing worth celebrating," said Cunningham of the latest improvements.
He and others on the call authored a nine-page letter dated Sept. 15 to the Surface Transportation Board, which regulates the railroad. The letter outlined several serious issues faced by residents who live near the pair of busy CSX lines.
The company has long owned the Blue Island Spur Line, which runs parallel with Rockwell Street in the 19th Ward.
CSX bought the Elsdon Rail Line in early 2013. This rail line runs directly east of Sacramento Avenue. There's a three-year window for regulators to review this deal as part of an environmental mitigation assessment, Cunningham said.
He believes the looming evaluation might motivate the rail company to come up with a long-term solution. But O'Shea said he's weary of anything CSX has to say after 3½ years of minor fixes.
"To say that we are frustrated with the situation with two CSX lines in our community is a gross understatement," O'Shea said.
The alderman said constituents are quick to call his office to report stopped trains and other issues with the railroad. In turn, he's shares their concerns with the company and works for a solution.
When CSX comes back with reports of improvements, O'Shea shares the news with frustrated residents. But too often he's been left with egg on his face, as the promises are broken and residents promised a fix are left stewing in their parked cars waiting for a train to pass, he sad.
"I'm not confident that we are going to have a resolution that is satisfactory to everyone in our community," he said.
For his part, Lipinski said an upcoming federal transportation budget might have money available to build underpasses that could also help fix the problem. He said a follow-up meeting is planned with CSX on Nov. 14 in Washington, D.C.
"I am going to keep on top of it," Lipinski said.
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