Eight Illinois Communities Stand Up to a $31 Billion “Big Rail” Merger 

CLIENT’S CHALLENGE

When Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) sought U.S. federal approval from the Surface Transportation Board in 2021 to acquire Kansas City Southern (KCS) – two of seven Class I railroads – eight suburban Chicago communities banded together to protect their common interests. The $31 billion transaction would result in a 300% increase in freight traffic – often including chemicals – via rail lines that, in many of the local jurisdictions, “ran right through the center of town.” 

As one mayor explained it, “These trains can be up to 11,000 feet. That’s more than two miles long. One train could block all our grade crossings at once. If we have a house fire on one side and our fire and emergency teams on the other, our response time could balloon from two or three minutes to 12 or 13.” The coalition set out to find a lobbying and communications strategy partner who could help it raise awareness in the media and across constituencies, advocate with impact at all government levels, and win concessions that would help keep their communities safe.

THE STRATEGIA SOLUTION

“We won this at bid,” said Lissa Druss, Strategia’s CEO, “for four reasons.” These included, she said: (1) Strategia’s knowledge and experience in the railway transportation market, (2) the firm’s stellar reputation and track record in supporting coalitions confronting similar challenges in “David vs. Goliath” conditions, (3) its vision on how to raise awareness across all key constituencies, and (4) its extensive relationships with government leaders at the relevant state and federal levels – and, as she put it: “our ability to have decision-makers pick up the phone and answer our calls.” 

In a multi-year engagement that continues post-merger today, the Strategia team has planned and delivered strategic communications support to the coalition, end-to-end, from naming the association, developing its new website, and crafting an integrated set of audience- and channel-specific messaging, to monitoring and responding to incoming emails and maintaining an active, robust and passionate social media presence.  

IMPACTS + OUTCOMES

The merger was approved. For a seven-year monitoring period, the coalition will continue to advocate for stronger mitigation measures, all in the name of safety. Although eight small communities couldn’t change that outcome, even with one united voice, they are well positioned to secure various mitigation measures that advance safety for residents and business owners – such as ensuring its first responders receive advanced hazmat training well beyond standard curriculums. Strategia continues to coordinate strategic planning and intends to work with state, local, and federal legislators to acquire needed funding, as well as continued in-person collaborative meetings with first responders, Metra, and the railroads.