A truck-train shipping yard and related development proposed near the DuPage Airport would pump more than $40 million in taxes into the city and its school systems over the next decade, railroad officials have told the City Council.
While aldermen sorted through the millions of dollars and thousands of jobs that the project proposed by Union Pacific Railroad might bring, they had questions about what else would come: more than 400 trucks a day rumbling into the city, most at night.
“The accident rate on Roosevelt Road is already high,” Ald. Richard Berendson said during the meeting Monday night. He noted that Roosevelt is the likely main local access road between major highways and the proposed rail port.
In an informational session similar to one last month to DuPage County officials, Union Pacific representatives appeared in West Chicago to talk about the tax and financial benefits the rail port would bring to the city and region. Union Pacific officials are expected to meet with DuPage Airport Authority officials this week to discuss leasing more than 200 acres of vacant authority land for construction of the $97.5 million yard, said Steven McLaws, director of engineering services for the railroad.
Union Pacific wants the yard for the transfer of containers between train cars and trailer trucks. McLaws said the facility could be built by late 1999.
The railport would bring $10.6 million in tax revenue into the city and nearly $30 million into the area schools over 10 years, according to railroad estimates. The State of Illinois would gain more than $110 million in taxes, which includes not only taxes on the railport itself, but taxes generated by expected spinoff businesses such as warehouses, and auto distribution facilities, railroad officials said.
