Rte 14, Railway Separation Project Presented to Large Crowd

Change is coming to Barrington regardless of whether the decision is an overpass or an underpass to separate Rte. 14 from the CN railway. Even if nothing is done, change will come due to a significant increase in train traffic.

At a public meeting held, April 25, at Barrington High School, there was a constant flow of Barrington area citizens, who came to learn about the proposed alternatives in Phase 1 of the U.S. Route 14 grade separation project and to voice their opinions.

Read what people are saying about the grade separation.

The grade separation project stems from the acquisition of EJ&E by CN railway in 2009. Currently about 12 trains are run on the line today and that number is expected to increase to 20 per day. The trains are expected to average 6,800 feet in length.  Already trains as long as 10,000 feet have been run through the village. Beyond 2015, there is no limit to the number of trains CN can run, according to the project video presentation. 

The village of Barrington has been working with IDOT in Phase 1 developing concept plans for a Rte. 14 grade separation. At the public hearing the two proposed alternatives were presented. 

The pluses and minuses of both alternatives were explained at the public hearing. 

An overpass would take Rte 14 as much as 30 feet higher than it is today. One home would be acquired. An underpass would take Rte. 14 about 23 feet lower than it is. Eight homes would be displaced and Flint Creek would be relocated. An underpass is estimated to cost 40 percent more than an overpass as it is more complex and would require a pump station. 

Phase 1 of the project is being funded by a Federal TIGER 11 planning grant obtained by the village as well as by IDOT.  The project is not included in IDOT’s 2014-2019 Proposed Multi-Modal Transportation Improvement Plan. 

Public comment is still being accepted through May 9. 

A decision on which alternative to go forward with is expected toward the end of the year.

“When we originally applied for the grant, I had always envisioned an underpass. We will consider all the comments from the public and that will be part of the decision,” said Village President Karen Darch. 

Detailed explanations of the alternatives are now on the U.S. Route 14 Grade Separation website.