Reporting by Kade Heather for Block Club Chicago:
CHICAGO — Amtrak’s proposed rail maintenance facility near Rate Field will undergo a federal environmental assessment after months of opposition from Bridgeport and Chinatown residents concerned about the project’s potential effects on their neighborhoods.
The proposed facility is being developed in partnership with Canal Edge, a company led by White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia, who has also proposed building a new Sox stadium on Amtrak’s existing 14th Street site in the South Loop.
The Federal Railroad Administration announced Monday it would conduct an environmental assessment after Amtrak sought federal funding for structural repairs to 17 viaducts supporting the proposed rail yard, which would stretch from Cermak Road to 38th Street and from Canal Street to Stewart Avenue.
The agency had initially determined the facility qualified for a less extensive environmental review, drawing harsh criticism from nearby residents who called for a closer examination of the project’s potential environmental and health effects.
The environmental assessment will include a public comment process, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, which did not immediately respond to further questions about its decision or the planned scope of its assessment.
The Rail Passengers Association, a national passenger rail advocacy group, said the assessment is expected to be released soon, followed by a 30-day public comment period. It also said the Federal Railroad Administration plans to host two public meetings, but dates and details have not been announced.
The federal agency estimates the environmental review and permitting will be done by Dec. 31.
Amtrak and Canal Edge welcomed the decision in a joint statement, saying the expanded review would provide more transparency and opportunities for community input. The companies said the project is an important investment in passenger rail service, infrastructure reliability and safety, as well as workforce opportunities in the Midwest.
“We believe a deeper public review process will help stakeholders better understand the need for the new facility and associated viaduct repair work as well as the environmental impact of the project,” Amtrak and Canal Edge said in a statement.
“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. They also acknowledged that “stakeholders have questions about the project” and welcomed additional feedback.
A categorical exclusion is a federal designation for projects that are generally considered unlikely to have significant environmental impacts and therefore don’t require a more detailed environmental review.
Ald. Nicole Lee, whose 11th Ward includes the proposed facility site, called the environmental assessment a hard-won step after months of residents speaking out against the project, but she said more needs to be done to address their concerns.
“We should not have had to scream, fight and pound on the doors of power just to get the basic transparency about the environmental effects this plan could have on our residents,” Lee said in a statement. “And our organizing does not stop now. No matter what this environmental study produces, our concerns about noise pollution, economic impact and other issues remain unaddressed.”
The Armour Bridgeport Coalition called the announcement “an important development” and welcomed the environmental assessment, but the group said it would continue to push for a full environmental impact statement and opposes the facility at its proposed location. The group is also skeptical of the scope of the assessment.
“A proposed 24/7 heavy-maintenance facility surrounded by thousands of residents, schools, businesses, and historic Armour Square Park deserves far greater scrutiny,” the Armour Bridgeport Coalition said in a statement. “… Any environmental review must examine the entire proposed maintenance facility, including its construction and around-the-clock operations, rather than narrowly focusing on related infrastructure improvements.”
The coalition said it supports modernizing Amtrak’s maintenance infrastructure, but it opposes converting the Canal Street Yard into a maintenance facility.
“Modernize the existing facility or find another appropriate industrial site. Bridgeport is not the answer,” the group said.
The Illinois Environmental Council, a statewide environmental advocacy group, echoed residents’ concerns about the proposed facility and called for greater accountability from project leaders.
“While Illinois needs modern rail infrastructure, this proposal currently misses the mark,” the council said in a statement. “We urge Amtrak, Canal Edge, and Justin Ishbia to listen to the community and ensure any rail investments move forward only in ways that minimize air pollution and protect the health of communities. We hope to see a fully transparent and thorough environmental assessment process.”