The villages of Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield, Bannockburn, and the City of Lake Forest hosted a symposium with the aim of discussing The Future of Rail Freight Traffic. The symposium was held on October 11, 2017, in Bannockburn, Trinity International University located on 2065 Half Day Road, in Waybright Center, Melton Hall from 7 to 8.30 p.m.
The program was open to the general public and any interested members of all the specific communities involved were invited to be in attendance. There was no charge for the event. There has been an increased attention that has been generated in these communities and others in the Chicago area concerning the matter of freight transportation by the local rail lines. Many residents living near rail infrastructure raised questions and concerns about recent probable freight train effects associated with any improvements that had been profiled in the Environmental Assessment for the Chicago-Milwaukee Intercity Rail Corridor. Other interests that came up included discussions concerning a freight-specific bypass rail line and also the functioning of the area freight yards.
This October 11 Symposium also addressed the current freight concerns such as safety, cargo transportation, what the Chicagoland area was to expect with time, and much more. There was a short presentation and a Question and Answer session that followed. The session was mediated by the Depaul University, Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development Director Joseph P. Schwieterman with a PhD from the School of Public Service.
Mr Scwieterman commented that it was important for citizens to understand more fully the dynamics of that form of transportation with the constant modernization and improvement of their rail freight system. He also added that it was important to keep updated on the happenings of the ever-changing sector whether one was simply a resident of a community with a railroad, under employment by a business that is shipping via rail, a train rider, or even a commuter.
The first panellist was Mott Macdonald’s Mark Walbrun PE, who oversees the company’s Rail & Transit Practice on the eastern end of the United States. Mr Walbrun has since 1975 managed notable North American freight and passenger railroad projects within Chicago and the United States. He is the current chairperson of the Transportation Research Board on Shared Rail Corridors and has leadership positions in various industry associations.
The second panellist was Laura Wilkinson, who is Metro Strategies’ Executive Vice President. Laura is involved in infrastructure initiatives, economic development, and regional policy and planning and she also spearheads communication and outreach activities for major programs and projects. She has worked on the CREATE program for more than a decade on the Chicago Department of Transportation’s behalf.
The Metropolitan Planning Council’s Audrey Wennink was the third panellist and she plays a role guiding the council’s efforts in transportation all while leading the Regional Planning and Infrastructure Advisory Committee. Audrey has also worked on advocacy, grant writing, cost-benefit analysis for the Association of American Railroads, IDOT, and CREATE to advance highway operations, passenger rail, and freight rail for 70 projects within greater Chicago.