Moving hazardous chemicals by train is far safer than trucks, says top regulator who pushed merger and wants more freight moved by rail

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Martin Oberman led the transportation board in approving the first big railroad merger in a quarter century, one that will have steep repercussions for Chicago-area communities. He cited safety as one of his chief reasons.

Truck and rail backups clogged roads, creating more pollution and raising health risks for Chicagoans near freight corridorsThat leaves Chicago to contend with more trains where many people don’t want them, and more trucks rolling into what, according to Inrix, is already the nation’sThe workforce reductions also damaged the railroads’ safety record, Oberman said.

The STB’s job is to listen to all affected residents and businesses, and to do its best to address their concerns but not necessarily to make everybody happy, Oberman said. Chicagoans aren’t preparing for such growth because most don’t know about it. As the city’s mayoral candidates focus on hot-button issues such as crime and public education, important issues such as traffic congestion get shunted aside, said Joseph Schofer, a Northwestern University transportation expert.

 

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