Follow-Up: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: Chinatown and Bridgeport Residents Protest Amtrak's $915 Million Maintenance Facility on October 28 as Federal Government Orders Environmental Assessment
Residents of Chicago's Chinatown and Bridgeport neighborhoods in Cook County, Illinois, rallied outside the Harris Theater downtown on October 28 to protest Amtrak's planned rail maintenance facility near Bridgeport and Chinatown, while the Invest for Kids charity investment conference was under way inside. The Federal Railroad Administration's cost estimate for the project is $915 million.
Residents have long feared that diesel pollution and noise from the facility would affect the health and living environment of nearby communities.
The Federal Railroad Administration had initially said the project qualified for a less extensive environmental review, a categorical exclusion. After sustained opposition from residents, the administration announced on October 26 that it would instead prepare a mandatory environmental assessment, which will include a public comment process.
Amtrak and developer Canal Edge said they support the more robust review, saying it would provide transparency and help stakeholders understand why the facility is necessary. Under the current timetable, the federal environmental assessment is expected to be complete by the end of 2026, followed by a 30-day public comment period. Until the assessment is done, the project is effectively on pause.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 芝加哥市政厅 / Chicago City Hall
