Both city officials and residents in Lake Forest are awaiting a decision from the Federal Railroad Administration on the next steps in a proposed rail project that would impact the town.
“I think the ball is in their court,” said City Manager Bob Kiely.
Amtrak has proposed several projects on its Chicago to Milwaukee Hiawatha line that would increase the number of daily trains. One of those projects is constructing a side track near the Academy Woods subdivision that would be long enough to hold a typical freight train.
Amtrak and its consulting engineers conducted an environmental assessment study. The public comment period on that study expired on Jan. 15.
A group of nearby residents and the city government would like to see a more thorough study of the potential impacts on the area called an environmental impact study.
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The city has forwarded all the correspondence it has received to Illinois Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Amtrak. Lake Forest officials have also enlisted the support of federal officials including U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider.
Steven Kirsch, communications director for Schneider, said the congressman sent a letter on Jan. 12 to the administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration requesting a full environmental impact study.
JoAnn Desmond, president of the Academy Woods Homeowners Association, thinks there are plenty of potential impacts to study including noise, vibration, flooding, diesel fumes and nature areas.
“We hope that before anything is approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, that they will approve an environmental impact study,” Desmond said. “The initial environmental assessment was to support the Amtrak proposal. It did not really provide information to show the impact it would have on residences, the businesses and community.”
Officials have previously said that a decision on the study could be made in the first quarter of this year.
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