CN announced it has reached a voluntary mitigation agreement (VMA) with the Village of Bartlett, Ill., located approximately 35 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, in connection with CN's Jan. 31, 2009, acquisition of the major portion of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E).

CN will provide Bartlett with funding for noise mitigation and emergency training and will monitor switching activity in conjunction with another railroad to minimize extended blockages of West Bartlett Road.

Jim Vena, CN senior vice-president, Southern Region, said: "CN is pleased to have come to terms with the Village of Bartlett on this mitigation agreement, which is the 28th VMA signed by CN with communities on the EJ&E line. Agreements such as these build ties with the communities through which we operate on the EJ&E."

CN reached its first VMA in August 2008, and has continued working with communities along the EJ&E to reach these voluntary agreements to provide environmental mitigation tailored to each community's needs. To date, 28 of the 33 communities directly affected by the EJ&E transaction have signed VMAs with CN.