Chicago City Council took up the fight of Bridgeport residents angry about Amtrak’s plan to relocate its South Loop rail yard near their homes and replace it with a White Sox stadium.
Members of the city’s Transportation Committee on Wednesday grilled representatives for Amtrak and Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia. The group then passed a resolution opposing Amtrak’s plan, and called on the rail company to return at a later date for another hearing.
No date has been set.
During the four hour meeting, committee members pressed Amtrak to release an already completed environmental study. Some also shamed the company for closing the deal announced in August out of public view.
The whole process was begun by Ald. Nicole Lee, whose 11th Ward covers the proposed new Amtrak maintenance site.
Lee has been leading a coalition of residents who have loudly opposed Amtrak’s plans since the rail company announced them in August. Early last month, Ishbia’s company said it planned a new Sox stadium at the South Loop rail yard site.
The coalition says it is concerned with the noise and health effects from a 24/7 train facility next door to thousands of people’s home. Members say the rail yard should stay on 14th Street, where only a few dozen people live nearby. The coalition wants Amtrak to release its own environmental review. The federal government exempted Amtrak from doing a full environmental study to fast track construction.
Amtrak says it needs a new rail facility in Chicago, its national hub, to keep its trains up to date and minimize delays.
Most people attending the meeting thought differently.
City Council’s gallery was nearly filled with opponents of Amtrak’s plan. They booed the few public speakers, including representatives for labor unions, who say they approve of Amtrak’s plan, which could bring 3,000 construction jobs and 400 more jobs if the facility opens.
Amtrak considered rebuilding its outdated maintenance facility at 14th Street, but decided on Canal Street in Bridgeport in 2023, Amtrak representative Steven Segerlin told the committee. He said Amtrak chose the Canal Street site because it was historically a rail yard, close to Union Station, similar in size to the existing yard, and was available for purchase. Keeping the yard at 14th Street would disrupt train service and cost more, he said. Segerlin said this information was shared at two previous community meetings in August and September.
The rail company also plans to relocate the yard’s “car wash” for trains, as well as its train storage and train shed. Construction would include updating aging viaducts under the rail yard. Work could begin next year.
In the meeting, Lee pressed Amtrak to release its own environmental review included in the original grant application. Segerlin said any release would require approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which owns Amtrak.
Ald. Bill Conway (34th) said he looks forward to discussing that further after Amtrak releases the environmental study.
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) called out Ishbia for not showing up himself.
In response, Eric Lynn, a representative for Canal Edge, the company behind buying Amtrak’s current yard, said he was there to represent Ishbia.
Ald. Jeylu Gutierrez (14th) said she was disappointed the public learned about this deal after it was completed.
“Decisions were made behind closed doors without community input,” she said.