Geneva residents at Monday’s City Council committee of the whole meeting renewed their objections to Union Pacific Railroad plans to close the railroad crossing at Old Kirk Road in Geneva Township.
The city is considering a proposed agreement with UP in advance of a likely order to close the crossing by the Illinois Commerce Commission on June 28.
Under the agreement, Geneva has asked that the crossing be kept open until Dec. 31, 2007, or until the Kirk Road/Illinois Highway 38 intersection improvements and the relocation of Old Kirk Road to the east are completed. The railroad would also improve the closed crossing and install barricades on both sides within the railroad right of way.
An administrative law judge has recommended to the ICC that the crossing be closed. Such recommendations are usually accepted, City Atty. Chuck Radovich said. The proposed agreement is an attempt to gain concessions from the railroad before the closure order is entered.
The agreement also requires that UP not stack, park or hold trains except in an emergency, but residents believe the UP will stack rail cars anyway.
Residents also believe that emergency vehicles would not be able to get to Cherry Lane homes if there is a traffic jam or accident in the area, and are concerned about the safety of pedestrians and possible declining property values.
The council will again take up the issue Monday at 7 p.m. in City Hall.
