Residents of Chicago’s Bridgeport and Chinatown neighborhoods convened at the Pui Tak Center (2216 S. Wentworth Ave.) on September 3 to protest Amtrak’s $900 million proposal to build a new rail‑maintenance facility on a 47‑acre site in Bridgeport. The meeting, organized by the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, featured Alderman Nicole Lee (11th Ward) and Cook County Commissioner Bill Daley, who both affirmed their opposition.
Community health and environmental justice concerns
Coalition spokesperson Sarah Tang warned that the project could increase diesel emissions, a known source of respiratory and cardiovascular problems, especially for children and seniors. Bridgeport Environmentalists founder Hannah Dembosky cited EPA findings that neighborhoods near rail yards face higher risks of asthma, heart disease, and even cancer.
“The United States Environmental Protection Agency itself explicitly states that communities near rail yards are at a higher risk of these various harms,” Dembosky said, adding that current train standards allow significant pollution to escape.
Land‑swap controversy and federal funding
Amtrak has already secured $700 million in federal transportation money and is seeking a categorical exclusion from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which would let the project bypass a full environmental review. Critics argue this undermines the community’s right to a thorough assessment.
Complicating matters, White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia has floated a land‑swap that would move the team’s Bridgeport stadium to Amtrak’s current South Loop site. Tang warned that the swap could re‑industrialize the area and make the existing Rate Field unsuitable for the team.
Local officials push back
Commissioner Daley noted that Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth have sent letters urging a slowdown, while Rep. Mike Quigley (D‑IL) expressed support for the residents. “We are 100 percent opposed and will stand with you,” Daley said.
Alderman Lee has reached out to Governor J.B. Pritzker and is awaiting a response. She criticized Amtrak’s claim that the community is “less important” than parking rail cars, urging the agency to consider more industrial‑only sites elsewhere in the city.
Next steps for the opposition
The coalition plans to compile residents’ questions and present them to Amtrak in the coming weeks, making meeting materials publicly available. They also called for broader solidarity with other neighborhood fights, such as opposition to the Quantum Shore megadevelopment on the Far South Side.
Longtime Bridgeport resident Deanna Holmes summed up the sentiment: “It just doesn’t make sense. There are families and kids right here – we shouldn’t be forced to accept a categorical exclusion without an environmental review.”
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
