DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom went to Washington, D.C., last week to voice local opposition to a proposed railroad acquisition in the western portion of the county.

During his three-day trip to the nation’s capital, Schillerstrom met with officials from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Surface Transportation Board, as well as congressional staff members. He made the visit to express concerns about the potential acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway by Canadian National Railway.

Canadian National announced in September its plans to buy the EJ&E for $300 million from U.S. Steel Corp. The railway has said the acquisition will connect its existing Chicago-area lines, allowing some freight trains to bypass the congested rails running in and out of the city.

The EJ&E Railway runs in an arc from Waukegan to Joliet to East Chicago, Ind. For towns along the line — such as Bartlett, Wayne, West Chicago, Warrenville, Naperville and Aurora — the purchase would mean a sharp increase in trains traveling along the tracks each day.

Many leaders in DuPage County have opposed the acquisition, which they believe will have a negative environmental impact on the county and a number of other communities in the Chicago area. It also will increase noise pollution and traffic congestion throughout DuPage County, officials said.

“Obviously, the acquisition of the EJ&E is critical to the county, especially the western portion of the county,” Schillerstrom said.

He was able to address some of the county’s concerns about the proposal with some of the “people on the ground” who will ultimately decide whether to approve the acquisition, he said.

Before granting its approval, the Surface Transportation Board will release a draft study on the environmental impact of the acquisition. Interested parties will then have a period of time to comment on the study before the board votes on the purchase.

Schillerstrom said he expects the study to be released by the end of the summer. Due to the widespread interest in the issue, area officials have asked the board to extend its normal comment period, he said.

Because of the influence railroads have in the United States, Schillerstrom said it will be an uphill battle to stop the acquisition. Local leaders will have to work together in order to succeed, he said.

“We have to be prepared to comment (on the environmental study) in a unified voice,” he said.

Two members of Congress who represent areas of DuPage County also have recently opposed the EJ&E acquisition.

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-6th District, of Wheaton announced June 30 in Bartlett that he will introduce legislation to block the buyout.

The following day, U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, R-13th District, of Hinsdale toured the EJ&E tracks with officials in the city of Aurora.

“The impact this merger could have on everything from school buses to emergency responders is severe,” Biggert said in a statement released after the tour. “Winning this fight requires that we gather the traffic data and other information necessary to make the strongest possible case to the (Surface Transportation Board).”