Despite impassioned pleas from Crete Township residents and the Will County Board members who represent them, the board agreed to seek grant funds for a grade separation on Crete-Monee Road at the site of a proposed intermodal terminal.
Those residing in unincorporated residential neighborhoods adjacent to the proposed terminal viewed the county's action as “a symbolic vote of Will County wanting the intermodal,” said Tim Piepenbrink, who lives 70 feet from CSX's property line.
The county board held a special meeting Thursday, prompted by a Jan. 15 deadline to apply for a grant from the Illinois Commerce Commission for a grade separation on Crete-Monee Road, at the request of CSX Railroad, which wants to build the intermodal from Crete-Monee Road to Goodenow Road, about a half mile west of Illinois 1. A government agency must apply for the grant.
Efforts by some board members to table the grant application for one year failed, and members voted 18 to 5 to pursue the grant for CSX, noting that there is no guarantee the grants would be available next year.
Board member Laurie Summers, D-Crete, who, as a resident, opposed a similar plan on this site 10 years ago, urged her colleagues to table it, saying CSX has no development plan and there is no infrastructure to support such a project.
“We need a regional plan,” she said.
Board member Judy Ogalla, R-Monee, who also represents this area, said Crete Mayor Mike Einhorn did what he wanted without considering or notifying the unincorporated residents, citing a “lack of trust,” and a “lack of communication” with government officials.
“We need to do what we can to protect these people,” Ogalla said, noting residents in her district, county board District 1, have been dealing with the South Suburban Airport, the proposed Illiana toll road, the proposed Great Lakes Basin Railroad and this intermodal.
If the grant is awarded — and county officials believe its chances are slim — CSX would provide the 40 percent match, and no county funds would be used for the project.
Crete-Monee and Goodenow Road both are county highways, and the Will County Division of Transportation would be involved in planning for the grade separation and deciding whether it would be an overpass or underpass, said Bruce Gould, the county's director of transportation.
Several residents spoke out against the board's action, even though county officials said the grade crossing grant and the intermodal were separate issues.
Tom Livington, CSX's regional vice president of government and community affairs, stated at a previous meeting the rail company would pursue the intermodal plan with or without the grade separation.
Debbie Piepenbrink said she was “mad, sad and insulted,” that CSX and Crete think the intermodal is a “community friendly” plan.
“We stand to gain nothing from this,” she said.
“I understand their concerns for the future, but this is a safety issue,” said board member Mike Fricilone, R-Homer Glen. “It impacts everyone who drives on that road.”
“Throughout Will County, grade separations are a welcome sight,” said County Executive Larry Walsh, D-Elwood, noting that many communities want them.
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