Federal Railroad Administration will do a fuller environmental review of Amtrak's proposed Bridgeport rail yard

The Federal Railroad Administration will conduct an environmental assessment of Amtrak’s proposed maintenance facility in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, a more detailed review than the agency first required.^{1, 2}

The agency had initially found that the project qualified for a categorical exclusion, a designation for projects not expected to have significant environmental effects, which skips a more detailed review.^{1, 2} That changed after Amtrak added structural repairs to 17 viaducts that support the rail yard to the project, according to both outlets.^{1, 2}

The assessment will include a public comment process, the agency said, according to Block Club Chicago.¹ The Rail Passengers Association, a national advocacy group, said the assessment is expected to be released soon and followed by a 30-day comment period, and that the agency plans two public meetings whose dates have not been announced, Block Club reported.¹ The agency estimates that the environmental review and permitting will be finished by Dec. 31.¹

The project

Amtrak wants to turn the Canal Street Yard, a former freight and intermodal yard near Rate Field, into a maintenance and coach yard for its Chicago-based passenger trains, replacing its aging 14th Street Yard.^{1, 2} The project is being developed with Canal Edge, a company led by White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia, who has also proposed a new Sox stadium on Amtrak’s current 14th Street site in the South Loop.¹

The Federal Railroad Administration puts the project’s cost at $915 million, Block Club reported.¹ NBC Chicago reported that a federal grant of nearly $600 million is going toward redeveloping the property.²

Reaction

U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth welcomed the decision in a statement Monday.² “This will provide a formal opportunity for the community to review environmental studies and provide direct input,” the senators said.² They added that Amtrak and the developer “must continue robust and transparent conversations with residents.”²

Amtrak and Canal Edge said in a joint statement that they support the review.¹ “While the categorical exclusion was already approved for the maintenance facility project, we believe a more robust environmental assessment is the correct next step and we fully support the FRA in this effort,” the companies said.¹ They said the project is an important investment in passenger rail service, reliability, safety and jobs in the Midwest.¹

Nicole Lee, the alderperson whose 11th Ward includes the site, said residents should not have had to fight for the review.¹ “Our organizing does not stop now,” Lee said in a statement, adding that concerns about noise pollution and economic impact remain unaddressed.¹

The Armour Bridgeport Coalition called the decision “an important development” but said it will keep pushing for a full environmental impact statement and opposes the facility at the proposed site.¹ The coalition said any review must examine the whole facility, including its construction and around-the-clock operation, “rather than narrowly focusing on related infrastructure improvements.”¹ The Illinois Environmental Council, a statewide advocacy group, said the proposal “currently misses the mark” and called for a transparent assessment.¹

Some residents have told NBC Chicago they are worried about health risks and the effect on families nearby.² Gov. JB Pritzker’s office has called the plan a “bait and switch,” saying it differs significantly from the project the state originally supported, NBC Chicago reported.²

Background

Amtrak has said the new site would replace aging, space-constrained facilities, improve performance and create thousands of jobs, according to NBC Chicago.² In late August, an Amtrak spokesperson said the railroad still needed city approval and had not yet submitted a site development plan to the city, the station reported.²

Ishbia said at a Crain’s Chicago Business event in mid-October that Bridgeport residents deserve answers about the facility, Block Club reported.¹ He also said the decision on whether the White Sox leave Rate Field, where the team’s lease expires after the 2029 season, belongs to team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.¹