Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13th) today joined lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to introduce legislation protecting the public’s interest in major railroad mergers.  Introduced by the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee James Oberstar (D-MN-8), along with 20 cosponsors, including Illinois delegation members Biggert, Mellissa Bean (D-IL-8), Bill Foster (D-IL-14), Don Manzullo (R-IL-16), Ray LaHood (R-IL-18), and Peter Roskam (R-IL-6), the bill would amend laws governing how the Surface Transportation Board (STB) reviews railway mergers prior to granting federal approval to move forward. 
 
           “For years, the STB has operated under laws that put the goals of railroad companies ahead of the interests of the public,” said Biggert.  “This bill corrects that imbalance.  We can’t allow rail companies like Canadian National to run roughshod over the rights of local communities.”
 
           Entitled the Taking Responsible Action for Community Safety (TRACS) Act, the bill would require the STB to weigh the public costs a merger would have against the transportation benefits to the railroads.  For a merger to proceed, the adverse impacts on communities could not outweigh the transportation benefits.  The STB also would have the authority to set strict mitigation conditions on the merger to balance the public’s interest against the transportation benefits.
 
           “It’s a matter of simple fairness,” said Biggert.  “A rail company shouldn’t be able to unilaterally move into a community, jeopardize residents’ safety and quality of life, then shoulder taxpayers with the costs mitigating the impact.  This isn’t just about one merger, it about protecting the basic rights of every community that contains a railway.” 
   
           When evaluating the public’s interest, the TRACS Act would require the STB to consider a merger’s safety and environmental impact, including the effects on local communities.  Among the areas that would be considered are public safety, grade crossing safety, hazardous materials transportation, emergency response time, noise, socioeconomic effects, and the impact on commuter rail service.  These considerations would apply to any merger not yet approved by August 1, 2008.
 
           “The STB’s recent report shows that CN’s proposed merger with EJ&E would have a dramatic affect on the service of at least 11 emergency fire and medical response providers,” said Biggert.  “These kinds of considerations need to be weighed far more heavily than the current law allows, and we aim to change that.”

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