Durbin Commends Amtrak and Metra for Actions to Lower Pollution, Calls on Old Post Office Owner to Cooperate
[CHICAGO, IL] – A collaborative effort among Amtrak, Metra, and state and federal agencies to reduce diesel soot emissions and improve air quality in and around Union Station has already produced positive results, but further progress requires the full cooperation of adjacent property owners, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Durbin wrote a letter today to the owner of the Old Post Office located south of Union Station to ask that he properly maintain and operate the ventilation systems below the building that prevent locomotive fumes from backing up in the train station.
After months of out-of-court attempts to settle the matter, Amtrak filed a complaint in U.S. District Court (Northern District of Illinois) on Friday against the Old Post Office’s holding company, International Property Developers. The building has already been cited by the City of Chicago for not maintaining and operating the ventilation system.
“As you know, air quality in Union Station is dependent on ventilation systems operated by private owners,” Durbin wrote. “When not properly maintained and operated, the resulting diesel exhaust build-up affects the millions of passengers who travel by rail through Chicago Union Station annually. Amtrak and City of Chicago officials have identified the lack of operational ventilation exhaust fans at the Old Post office property that you own a significant factor contributing to the problem. In the past year, both Metra and Amtrak have taken significant steps to reduce diesel emissions from their trains. The progress these changes will make toward improving air quality, however, will be limited if all ventilation systems in the surrounding area are not made fully operational.”
In November 2010, Durbin asked several federal agencies to work with Amtrak and Metra to look into the results of a Chicago Tribune report that discovered the high level of diesel soot and air pollution in commuter rail cars and on train platforms at Union Station. The report found levels of diesel soot in Ogilvie and Union Stations significantly higher than on the streets outside. Diesel exhaust contains many air pollutants, and has been linked to health problems such as cancer, heart attacks, respiratory diseases, diabetes and brain damage.
In February 2011, Durbin met with then-recently appointed CEO of Metra, Alex Clifford, to discuss Metra’s ongoing review of diesel locomotive emissions. Since the Chicago Tribune’s report, Metra has added high efficiency filters to each of their train cars, reducing pollution inside cars by an average of 75 percent. Through the federally-funded Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program, Metra will be able to install automatic shut-offs on 27 locomotives, shutting down train engines that idle for more than 10 minutes. With $5.28 million in additional federal funding through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program, Metra will be able to install 29 additional engine retrofits to limit idling and completely rebuild tow aging locomotives. When these locomotives are shut down instead of left idling, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by more than 81,000 tons per year.
Durbin also wrote to Joseph Boardman, President and CEO of Amtrak, in July 2011 for an update on their efforts to improve air quality in and around Union Station. Amtrak has received federal CMAQ funds to acquire two “gen-set” switching locomotives to reduce emissions in its busy Chicago facility and will acquire new diesel locomotives that will meet new EPA Tier 3 or 4 standards designed to operate more cleanly. Amtrak also initiated a comprehensive review of the ventilation system surrounding the tracks in Union Station.
The suit filed by Amtrak on Friday claims the Old Post Office’s lack of ventilation is affecting public health, and would force the owner to operate and maintain the fans.
The letter sent to Mr. Bill Davies, Chairman of International Property Developers, appears below.
Bill Davies
Chairman
International Property Developers
875 North Michigan Ave
Suite 3100
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Dear Mr. Davies:
I urge you to make every effort possible to improve the ventilation systems at your Old Post Office property and improve the air quality within Chicago Union Station.
The Chicago Tribune first reported in late 2010 about air quality issues in Chicago Union Station, and I am deeply troubled by what has been learned. The well-documented public health dangers of breathing high levels of diesel soot demand the immediate action of all involved to address this problem. As you know, air quality in Union Station is dependent on ventilation systems operated by private owners. When not properly maintained and operated, the resulting diesel exhaust build-up affects the millions of passengers who travel by rail through Chicago Union Station annually.
Amtrak and City of Chicago officials have identified the lack of operational ventilation exhaust fans at the Old Post office property that you own a significant factor contributing to the problem. The City of Chicago Building Department recently cited the property for code violations due to inoperable ventilation fans. Amtrak has filed suit to assure property-owner obligations with regard to ventilation are being fulfilled.
In the past year, both Metra and Amtrak have taken significant steps to reduce diesel emissions from their trains. Metra added high-efficiency air filters inside their train cars, switched to a cleaner-burning diesel fuel, and installed automatic shut-offs on train cars to reduce idle time. Amtrak has conducted a top-down assessment of air quality issues in Union Station and has implemented plans to upgrade their aging diesel engines. The progress these changes will make toward improving air quality, however, will be limited if all ventilation systems in the surrounding area are not made fully operational.
I stand ready to work with you to assure that all necessary measures are taken to improve air quality for passengers in Union Station.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin,
United States Senator