# Bridgeport residents demand Amtrak halt rail yard project

> Residents in Chinatown and Bridgeport push Amtrak to stop rail yard construction near homes
- Title: Bridgeport residents demand Amtrak halt rail yard project
- Summary: Residents in Chinatown and Bridgeport push Amtrak to stop rail yard construction near homes Over 6,000 residents within 500 feet of proposed site oppose…
- Keywords: bridgeport, chinatown, amtrak, railyards, safety, environment, residents, chicago, canal edge llc, justin ishbia, white sox, south loop
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/09/17/chinatown-and-bridgeport-residents-press-amtrak-leaders-to-pump-the-breaks-on-rail-yard-plan
- Published: 2026-09-19T23:18:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: bridgeport, chinatown, amtrak, railyards, safety, environment, residents, chicago, canal edge llc, justin ishbia, white sox, south loop
## Residents protest rail yard plan
Hundreds of Bridgeport and Chinatown residents confronted Amtrak leaders demanding answers about safety, environment, and quality of life impacts of the rail yard project

> You're treating us like we're idiots. We're not idiots. We're intelligent, hardworking people making our home here.
## Amtrak's rail yard proposal
Amtrak and White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia's company Canal Edge LLC plan to build a rail yard on South Canal Street between West 33rd and 35th streets
## Project benefits
Amtrak claims the new site would modernize maintenance, cleaning, and storage practices to reduce delays and create 3,000 construction jobs and 400 permanent positions
## Community concerns
Over 6,000 residents live within 500 feet of the proposed site compared to 29 near current Amtrak facility, with concerns about children, seniors, and nearby playgrounds and pool
## Environmental review
The project received $600 million and a categorical exclusion from federal government to bypass environmental tests and an environmental impact statement to accelerate construction
## Community demands
Residents demand Amtrak commit to zero noise impacts in areas with moderate expected noise and guarantee no elevated health risks from the facility
## Elected officials oppose
Cook County Commissioner John Daley and Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) criticized Amtrak for not addressing community concerns and for only informing residents in the 11th hour
## Project timeline
Amtrak plans to move into the new rail yard beginning as early as end of 2026, with construction starting soon
## Community support
A few residents support the project citing job creation potential for the area
## Community demands
Residents say Amtrak should have started by asking the community if they would want the facility next to their homes
## Project impact
The rail yard would affect over 6,000 residents in Chinatown and Bridgeport compared to 29 near current Amtrak facility
## Key takeaway

Over 6,000 residents within 500 feet of proposed site oppose Amtrak's rail yard plan due to safety and environmental concerns