Western Springs Upset With Railroad Project

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Western Springs officials expressed frustration this week with a railroad project that left trees torn, shredded and "just an awful sight."

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has been clearing trees from within 17 feet of its tracks in a number of towns, including Western Springs, La Grange and Hinsdale.

At a meeting Monday, Western Springs Manager Ingrid Velkme told the Village Board that the company informed the village last week that it would finish the work.

"Today, no one did show up, and we are not surprised," Velkme said. "It is not our property. The machine that they used to remove the trees left them torn and shredded and just an awful sight."

In February, village managers from Western Springs, La Grange, Riverside and Brookfield wrote a joint letter to the company expressing "our extreme disappointment" at its "lack of sensitivity as a corporate citizen to resident concerns," Velkme said.

The railroad acknowledged the letter, but gave no information on how it planned to landscape its property, Velkme said.

Trustee James Tyrrell said he has received a number of complaints from people asking whether a tornado or train hit the trees.

"Some of the jutting edges look almost dangerous if kids were to play on it," he said.

Matthew Supert, the village's director of municipal services, said the village has been working with the company to get as much information as it can. Sometimes the railroad has been forthcoming with its plans, other times it has not been, he said.

Village President Alice Gallagher sympathized with staffers' efforts to contact the company.

"I know it can be frustrating dealing with BNSF, so good luck," she said.

In an email to Patch on Wednesday, Supert said the village has not received any additional responses from the company to his knowledge since Monday's meeting.

"The Public Works Division is planning to complete the stump removals ourselves within the next few weeks once we can secure either the rental of the stump grinder or coordinate and schedule a contractor," Supert said.

Patch left a message for comment with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway's media relations department.