Channahon Canadian National Railway
In the coming weeks, the Canadian National (CN) Railway will begin construction on the Chicago Logistics Hub intermodal facility. In order to provide accurate and up-to–date information to residents and the community, the Village of Channahon has created the following to answer some of the most common questions about the proposed development.
● What is the Chicago Logistics Hub?
○ The Chicago Logistics Hub is a 2-part project proposed for development by the Canadian National (CN) Railway.
■ Part 1: Is a train-truck intermodal facility serviced by the CN rail line. This is the portion of the project regulated by the federal government.
■ Part 2: Is a traditional logistics/business park that will be located near the intermodal facility. This portion of the project will go through the regular Village of Channahon review and approval process, including submissions by CN and their consultants, review by Village staff and consultants, public meetings, review by the Village Planning and Zoning Commission, and approval by the Village Board of Trustees.
● Where is the Chicago Logistics Hub?
○ The project is north of US Route 6, generally across from AuxSable Liquid Products and LyondellBasell, in Grundy County.
● What is “federal pre-emption”?
○ Federal pre-emption gives the federal government the authority to set the rules for railroads to ensure consistency and safety across the country. The federal government rules for railroads override state and local governments.
● What towns is this project located in?
○ The majority of the project lies within the Village of Channahon’s boundaries. A smaller portion of the property currently lies in unincorporated Grundy County, some of which is located on the Village of Minooka side of the Channahon-Minooka Boundary Agreement.
● Is the property zoned appropriately for the intended use?
○ The majority of the property that CN has purchased has been zoned I-2 Intensive Industrial in the Village of Channahon for over 25 years. The proposed uses are consistent with the I-2 zoning district.
○ The property located in unincorporated Grundy County is zoned
Industrial under the county’s zoning classification system.
● Why is CN allowed to start construction on the intermodal facility without approval first from the Village of Channahon?
○ Federal pre-emption overrides state and local laws that would require railroad facilities to seek permitting or preapproval for construction work. For this project, federal pre-emption only applies to the intermodal facility portion.
● What is the timeline for construction of the intermodal facility?
o The CN has stated that earthwork and drainage work for the intermodal facility will begin in Summer/Fall of 2025, with full construction of the facility beginning in 2026. Timelines have the intermodal facility scheduled to be operational by 2027.
● What is the timeline for construction of the logistics/business park?
o Construction of the logistics/business park will begin after all approval processes are completed by the Village of Channahon. No construction dates have been determined at this time.
● How will this project impact traffic in the area?
Exact designs of traffic routing have not been finalized. The Village has hired several traffic consultants to review and provide input to traffic studies conducted and submitted by CN. These studies are also being reviewed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
• Is the Village of Channahon working with other regional government agencies regarding this project?
o Yes. Since April 2023, the Village has hosted regular meetings with regional governmental partners to consider the potential impacts of the proposed development and other developments in the area. These partners include the Village of Minooka, the City of Morris, the Grundy Economic Development Corporation, Grundy County, the Illinois Department of Transportation, as well as members of law enforcement agencies, fire protection districts, and members of legislature from
state, county, and the federal government.
o This area is experiencing significant development, with industrial developments current and ongoing in Minooka and Morris, in addition to the existing business uses along the US Route 6 corridor.
● How will I know when the public meetings will be held?
o All agendas of the Village Planning and Zoning Commission and Village Board of Trustee meetings are posted on the Village website, at Village Hall, and on various social media platforms. All meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend. Sign up for news alerts at www.channahon.org/alerts. Public hearing signs will be posted on the property and notification will be directly sent to owners within 250 feet.
• Where can I find more information about this project?
o Information about this project can be found on the Village of Channahon website at www.channahon.org/chicagologisticshub. In addition, the CN has created a website for the project which can be found at www.cnchicagologisticshub.com. Citizens can also contact the Village of Channahon for information at 815-467-6644.
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