Passenger Trains > Bridgeport residents don't want Amtrak shop

...especially not shoved down their throats...

Both U.S. senators from Illinois have called on Amtrak to provide more information on plans to relocate a maintenance facility from the South Loop to Bridgeport, amid growing backlash from neighbors. 

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth asked the Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak to provide greater transparency about the project in order to provide Bridgeport residents more information on exactly how the facility would operate and what impacts it will have on noise, safety, and traffic levels. "We ask that both the FRA and Amtrak be responsive to the community and provide both residents and local officials with greater detail and insight into Amtrak's plans to relocate the maintenance yard. Further, we ask that any such improvements to Amtrak's maintenance operations in the Chicago area be accompanied by a robust and transparent conversation with the residents who may be impacted," the senators wrote. 

Many people in Bridgeport have complained that, if Amtrak builds a new maintenance facility near the White Sox's home ballpark, their quality of life and community will change and now they're fighting. Bridgeport sits just outside of downtown on the Near South Side, and homeowners are close-knit. "It's two, three, four generations deep in the Bridgeport area," Jack Byrnes said. The community is upset with Amtrak's plans to build a 24/7 maintenance facility on the existing railroad viaduct along Canal Street between 33rd and 35th streets. "We're opposed to 24/7 maintenance facility Amtrak wants to drop right in the middle of our neighborhood," said Maria LaGiglio. 

CBS News Chicago came out to listen to a handful of neighbors on Thursday, but dozens more spilled out of their homes and within minutes they took to the streets. "Everybody's fed up," Byrnes said. The community's frustration comes after Amtrak informed them of the plans to build a four-story maintenance facility within feet of dozens of homes. Alicia Ferro said it's one thing for freight trains to be moving through the neighborhood on the existing tracks, but it's another thing for Amtrak to build a 24/7 maintenance facility in the middle of a residential area. "It's going to be constant noise, pollution," she said. "I don't even know, honestly, what it will truly bring, because there are so many different moving parts with this." 

Amtrak currently operates a 47-acre maintenance facility in an industrial area near 14th Street along the Chicago River, but for unknown reasons is planning to relocate the facility to Bridgeport. Work on the $900 million project is expected to begin this fall, after receiving more than $600 million in federal funding last week, but neighbors can't understand why their input was never included. "They won't even show you a rendering, nor a site plan, but we know they're in the process. We know it's already drafted. They wouldn't be at this stage if they didn't. So, just show us what you want to put here so that everybody can see it. Rip the Band-Aid off it," Byrnes said. Ald. Nicole Lee (11th), whose ward includes Bridgeport, said she has only seen a limited PowerPoint presentation on the project from Amtrak. "I don't understand how project of this size and scale can be approved so quickly for funding with zero engagement," she said. 

But the fight is not over for Bridgeport residents. "The fight just started," Byrnes said. Amtrak has not responded to request for comment. They have held two community meetings in the past two weeks, but Bridgeport residents are demanding another one with real answers. 

On the web with news video: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/amtrak-maintenance-facility-bridgeport-dick-durbin-tammy-duckworth/  

What a bunch of BS - the rail yard and Canalport are right there...I'd sure rather have a passenger maintenance facility than an old undeveloped freight yard.
Silly NIMBYs ...

The passenger rail maintenance rail facility is needed period. It doesn't matter how many people who live in adjacent neighborhoods will complain. At the end of the day, the facility will have to get built where it is supposed to. The railroad was there first. 

I see the Amjoke apologists are here.

Maybe the rest of the world doesn’t want to live next to a diesel shop (not that much would happen there). Maybe people are wondering why this is getting ram’d down people’s throats so fast? (Hint, this is Cook County Illinois so🤷🏻‍♂️)…

Follow the money.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

agitator Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>...I'd sure rather have a passenger
> maintenance facility than an old undeveloped
> freight yard.
> Silly NIMBYs ...

An old undeveloped freight yard can be a lot more quieter than a passenger maintenance facility with dozens of idling locomotives 24x7, plus high-rpm load tests, repeated horn & bell tests, etc.

I don’t blame the nearby residents for wanting Amtrak to come to the table like a good neighbor… but yeah they won’t be able to influence regulatory agency decisions… only what Amtrak is willing to concede to ‘keep the peace’ … if they care 🤷‍♂️

While the maintenance facility is needed Amtrak owes the neighborhood a rendering and impact study

The new maintenance buildings Amtrak are building in other cities are massive. Plus this needs to be a 24-7 facility with lighting throughout the rail yard

I only hope Amtrak doesn’t cave with unreasonable demands that will jack up the price or limit their ability to maintain equipment 24X7

Posted from iPhone

Da'Maya  Mr Daley, grew up in Bridgeport, and was an alderman from there.  No way anybody would try to shove a maintenance facility on his neighbors and friends.

I hope but do not know if due diligence has been done as to how the facility will operate.  When I need head or tail room or have other needs, will my authority come from the Metra Southwest Dispatcher (as the Western Indiana Runner is parallel to the yard)? There is a genuine need to add Canalport to Amtrak's holdings, but I shudder when I think how reliant Amtrak will be on that lift bridge across the Chicago River.

At present Amtrak is in a sweet spot as it controls movements into and out of 14th St. with little coordination, having to contend with NS on the south end of Canalport and CN crossing with fat freights to the north gives pause.

Although DOT Sec. Duffy may want to say that this effort is strictly to benefit Amtrak, we know that the pace of activity and Ishbia's present and future ownership stake in the White Sox is driving this matter.
This situation in Chicago is similar to the data center controversy that is upsetting many communities.  Companies and many politicians don't want to talk to the people and end up stubbing their toes.

"Ald. Nicole Lee (11th), whose ward includes Bridgeport, said she has only seen a limited PowerPoint presentation on the project from Amtrak. "I don't understand how project of this size and scale can be approved so quickly for funding with zero engagement," she said. "

Not at all an isolated occurrance these days.  For example, I don't recall the extensive public engagement campaign and governmental oversight involvement prior to the East Wing being torn down.

As a previous poster said - "Follow the money"

- Norm

Many discussions about possible data center locations include land owners, politicians, economic development people, bankers, etc signing non-disclosure agreements about any aspect of a project. 

Here in south Florida, a proposed data center in western Palm Beach county signed up the county commissioners, the county's economic development team, and prohibited the commission from hiring its own outside people to evaluate water use (the proposed amount was laughably low), the amount of electricity consumed (ditto), and the amount of noise the school on the adjacent property line might hear (low).  The first anybody heard about this was the first reading of multiple zoning changes heard by the commission.

The same process is used for enormous warehouses. Put the commission under an NDA, low ball the noise, trucks, night time activity, etc. Spread around some money and get your approval.

Just wondering --

Is the new location actually the old GM&O facility - where they used to maintain
the Turbo Liners - just south of the Brighton Park crossing ?

If not, what "legacy" railroad will it be on -- the PRR?

The good residents of Bridgeport have little to worry about. Can you imagine how long it would take Amtrak to design, bid, and build a massive rail passenge yard and maintenance facility? I can't.

Why is the maintenence  being moved at all?. Further away from the origin and destination point will increase costs and reduce effiiciency. Unless we follow the money like Drknow suggests to find out. Bill Webb



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/26 14:09 by spider1319.

to: spider1319

It's being moved to make the land available for a new
Whight Sox Ball stadium.

Now we're talking big money. (Billions).  Everyone will
have their hands out--so, don't know how much Amtrak will get.

Whatever and wherever an amtrak facility is built the work product will be no different than what comes out of 14th St.

In defense of the residents I don't think there has been much railroad activity at Canal St. for years.

 

moving the shop further way, is ridiculous, just sell the air rights

ronald321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just wondering --
>
> Is the new location actually the old GM&O facility
> - where they used to maintain
> the Turbo Liners - just south of the Brighton Park
> crossing ?
>
> If not, what "legacy" railroad will it be on --
> the PRR?

No, it’s the former Canal St Yard, once owned by C&WI.

Thanks, AmtrakMidwest

The C&WI handled trains out of the Dearborn Station,  Do you
know the current railroad routing today's trains would have to take 
from Union Station to  reach this location?

Hope it's not 5 MPH trackage.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/26 16:37 by ronald321.

This entire thing seems stupid even for Amtrak.  Putting aside all of the other things like new cars or locomotives that work that could be bought for $900m dollars (surely to be over $1billion if this ever happens), Amtrak has spent more money rebuilding the current and closer yard, promising it would do miracles for maintenance and ontime performane and never addresses why this has never happened.  Of all of the people to plan and develop a new unneeded farther away facility, Amtrak is the last company I would go to.

Whenver there is 'government money' for any government entity available, any common sense vanishes.

btw, how is Amtrak's record for ontime yard and mainteance projects in the East or Seattle or anywhere?

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth asked the Federal Railroad
> Administration and Amtrak to provide greater transparency about the project in order to provide
> Bridgeport residents more information on exactly how the facility would operate and what impacts it
> will have on noise, safety, and traffic levels.

>.Work on the $900 million project is
> expected to begin this fall, after receiving more
> than $600 million in federal funding last week,

As though our Senators didn't know all about it.  The $600 million wouldn't have been granted without their influence.