South Side residents are pushing back on plans to build a 24/7 Amtrak maintenance facility in Bridgeport. The transportation company said a new site is necessary, citing the current South Loop location as “undersized and fragmented.” The proposed Canal Street move would reconstruct the current railyard, which has been dormant since 2019. Chicago has historically served as one of the nation’s largest hubs for railroad services, making this Midwest Maintenance Facility crucial for travel from coast to coast. Residents in surrounding areas such as Bridgeport, Chinatown and Armour Square said they understand that the facility has to move, but that other sites should be considered. According to a website by Bridgeport Environmentalists, nearly 7,000 residents live near the proposed site, more than 200 times the number of residents who live near the current facility. More context: Residents are calling for a full environmental review after the project was granted a categorical exclusion from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), meaning the facility is not required to undergo an environmental assessment. Opponents said without the assessment, there is no way to tell what the extent of the environmental impacts would be on the community, leaving residents unable to prepare for them. The FRA is helping fund the $900 million project, committing up to $659 million in grants for relocation support. The development is also being funded, in part, by Canal Edge LLC, a development and investment firm owned by Chicago White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia. Ishbia recently released renderings for a new White Sox stadium proposal. The stadium would be built where the current Amtrak maintenance facility stands, causing the intentions of the new railyard site’s proposal to come into question. The White Sox have played in Bridgeport for more than 100 years; however, their lease at Rate Field is set to expire in 2029. Ishbia is also set to gain controlling interest of the team as early as 2029 and could become majority owner after the 2034 season.
