Saturday, October 28, 2006
Tribune Trips on Little Fox River Grove Train Speed Fact
In Wednesday night’s Chicago Tribune story on Cary-Grove High School student Justin Glassmyer’s being killed in a bicycle-train crash at the same intersection 7 other high school students died 11 years ago there was a mistake.
This is not the way Metra train speeds were cut from 70 to 50 MPH:
What happened is that the parents implored the Commerce Commission to do so and were rebuked.
They finally convinced me to sponsor a bill to mandate the reduction in speed.
To the best of my knowledge, a speed limit had never been legislated before.
The day of the vote, Mayor Bill Yocius led a delegation of parents and concerned residents to Springfield, where they lobbied House members. I remember that Fox River Grove Police Chief Robert Polston was there, too.
I was told when the vote would be held, so I had time to work the floor, which I did.
Naturally the railroad lobbyists had been working hard to kill the bill. Bad precedent and all that.
Not until later was I told that Metra Chairman Jeff Ladd had told his law firm employee (maybe, junior partner would be a better way to put it) Republican Leader Lee Daniels had told his leaders to kill the bill.
Well, guess what?
Legislative colleagues are pretty good at voting for bills that don’t hurt their districts and have a big emotional impact in a member’s district.
Nevertheless, it was a hard sell.
But we were successful.
And, the joy in the pain-filled eyes of several parents of those killed in the crash up in the back hall behind the chamber after the vote made it all worthwhile.
I wonder if there will be a correction on the Tribune’s misstatement.
Naah. It’s close enough.
This is not the way Metra train speeds were cut from 70 to 50 MPH:
After the accident, the Illinois Commerce Commission ordered the speed limit of express trains through the town reduced from 70 to 50 m.p.h.But not at its own volition. That’s for sure.
What happened is that the parents implored the Commerce Commission to do so and were rebuked.
They finally convinced me to sponsor a bill to mandate the reduction in speed.
To the best of my knowledge, a speed limit had never been legislated before.
The day of the vote, Mayor Bill Yocius led a delegation of parents and concerned residents to Springfield, where they lobbied House members. I remember that Fox River Grove Police Chief Robert Polston was there, too.
I was told when the vote would be held, so I had time to work the floor, which I did.
Naturally the railroad lobbyists had been working hard to kill the bill. Bad precedent and all that.
Not until later was I told that Metra Chairman Jeff Ladd had told his law firm employee (maybe, junior partner would be a better way to put it) Republican Leader Lee Daniels had told his leaders to kill the bill.
Well, guess what?
Legislative colleagues are pretty good at voting for bills that don’t hurt their districts and have a big emotional impact in a member’s district.
Nevertheless, it was a hard sell.
But we were successful.
And, the joy in the pain-filled eyes of several parents of those killed in the crash up in the back hall behind the chamber after the vote made it all worthwhile.
I wonder if there will be a correction on the Tribune’s misstatement.
Naah. It’s close enough.
