AMTRAK SAYS IT PLANS TO USE FEDERAL PREEMPTION—HERE IS WHAT WE MUST DO NOW
A letter obtained by Sox Machine lays out Amtrak’s position plainly: Amtrak claims it is not subject to state or local zoning and does not need Chicago’s normal development permits to build its massive 24/7 maintenance facility beside our homes and Armour Square Park.
We always knew Amtrak could claim federal preemption. What is new is seeing, in writing, that it intends to use that power.
Let’s also be clear: putting this position out publicly may be intended to convince residents that Amtrak has all the power and fighting back is pointless. It is not. It gives us a clearer picture of how Amtrak intends to push this project forward—and exactly where the pressure needs to go next.
Most importantly, Amtrak is relying on a federal environmental determination while the community still has not been given the underlying environmental review or documentation supporting it.
That raises a very basic question:
If Amtrak intends to bypass normal local safeguards because it says the federal process controls, then where is the federal environmental record?
Before construction begins, residents deserve to know what was evaluated, when it was evaluated and whether the review considered the facility Amtrak now proposes to operate beside homes and historic Armour Square Park—including its 24/7 operations, diesel pollution, noise, vibration, lighting, traffic, hazardous materials and other impacts.
This also underscores why Rep. Mike Quigley’s statement that he told Amtrak not to use its preemptive powers was so important. We need every elected official to take that same position publicly.
THE CITY AND STATE ARE NOT POWERLESS
A project of this size does not happen in a vacuum. Amtrak may still need streets closed, public ways occupied or opened, water and sewer connections, utility coordination, traffic control, construction staging, easements, access agreements, emergency planning or the use of City- and State-controlled property.
City and State officials must determine exactly what Amtrak still needs from them, strictly enforce every requirement that still applies and refuse every discretionary request they legally can.
No special treatment. No expedited assistance. No voluntary agreements that make this project easier.
CONTACT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON
Mayor Johnson cannot remain silent while Amtrak claims it can bypass Chicago’s normal safeguards to build a massive industrial facility beside our homes and park.
Ask him:
Will you publicly oppose this location?
Will you direct every City department and the Corporation Counsel to identify and use every power Chicago still has?
Will the City refuse, to the fullest extent legally possible, discretionary street closures, public-way access, utility assistance, easements, agreements, City property and other assistance Amtrak may need?
Will you demand that Amtrak release its federal environmental documentation before any construction or irreversible work begins?
This is happening in Chicago. The Mayor of Chicago must fight for the people who live here.
Cristina Pacione-Zayas — Chief of Staff
cristina.pacione-zayas@cityofchicago.org
Max Budovitch — Deputy Mayor
max.budovitch@cityofchicago.org
Brian Tyler — Business, Economic and Neighborhood Development
brian.tyler@cityofchicago.org
Jonah Anderson — Health and Human Services
jonah.anderson@cityofchicago.org
Allison Novelo — Mayor’s Press Office
allison.novelo@cityofchicago.org
Mayor’s Press Office
press@cityofchicago.org
Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement
communityengagement@cityofchicago.org
Mayor’s Office: 312-744-3300
CONTACT CITY DEPARTMENTS
These departments oversee planning, transportation, public ways, buildings, the environment and public health.
Ask them:
What authority does Chicago still have?
What has Amtrak asked your department to approve, provide or facilitate?
Has your department reviewed the project?
Will you refuse every discretionary request you legally can?
Will you release your findings and legal analysis to the public?
Ciere Boatright — Planning and Development
ciere.boatright@cityofchicago.org
William Cheaks Jr. — Acting CDOT Commissioner
william.cheaks@cityofchicago.org
Ask CDOT specifically about street closures, construction traffic, public-way occupation, excavation, utility coordination, staging and traffic-control assistance.
Angela Tovar — Department of Environment
angela.tovar@cityofchicago.org
Marlene Hopkins — Department of Buildings
marlene.hopkins@cityofchicago.org
Dr. Garth Walker — Department of Public Health
garth.walker@cityofchicago.org
Corporation Counsel / Department of Law
312-744-0200
Ask the Corporation Counsel to explain—in writing—which City laws and approvals Amtrak claims are preempted, which still apply and what legal options Chicago has to challenge or limit Amtrak’s claims.
CONTACT THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT
Armour Square is not an empty patch of land. It has served this community for more than 120 years. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Children play here. Families use it every day.
Ask the Park District to:
Publicly oppose this location.
Demand a full review of the project’s effects on Armour Square Park.
Refuse any access, easements, construction staging or other use of Park District property.
Use every historic, environmental and parkland protection available.
Demand that Amtrak release its environmental documentation before construction begins.
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa — General Superintendent and CEO
superintendent@chicagoparkdistrict.com
Heather Gleason — Planning and Construction
heather.gleason@chicagoparkdistrict.com
Chicago Park District: 312-742-4200
SHOW UP AT THE ISFA BOARD MEETING
The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority controls Rate Field and State-owned property surrounding it. Its board must hear directly from the people who live here.
Wednesday, September 16 at 10 a.m.
Rate Field, 333 W. 35th Street
Bring a valid photo ID.
We need to fill that room.
Ask ISFA to:
Publicly oppose the Bridgeport location.
Refuse to provide property, parking lots, access, easements, staging space or agreements that would help Amtrak’s project.
Disclose whether Amtrak, Shore Capital, Canal Edge, Justin Ishbia or the White Sox has requested the use of ISFA-controlled property.
Demand the release and full review of Amtrak’s environmental documentation.
Take no action that facilitates this project without public notice and community input.
ISFA
pjf@isfauthority.com
312-674-5590
CONTACT THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX
The White Sox have said they were unaware of the full extent of Amtrak’s plans. Now that they know, silence is not enough.
Ask the White Sox to:
Publicly oppose the Bridgeport location.
Tell Amtrak and Justin Ishbia that the organization will not support any stadium or redevelopment plan that depends on moving this facility beside Bridgeport homes and Armour Square Park.
Commit that the team will not request or support the use of Rate Field parking lots or other State-controlled property for construction staging, access, expansion or any future phase of Amtrak’s plans.
Call for the release and full scrutiny of Amtrak’s environmental documentation before construction begins.
Urge ISFA to refuse any property, access, easement or agreement that would help this project move forward.
Bridgeport has supported this team for generations. The White Sox must stand with the community they call home.
Chicago White Sox
community@chisox.com
312-674-1000
CONTACT SHORE CAPITAL AND JUSTIN ISHBIA
Justin Ishbia and Shore Capital are pursuing the redevelopment of Amtrak’s valuable South Loop property. Bridgeport should not be forced to absorb a massive industrial facility to clear that land for someone else’s development.
Ask Shore Capital and Justin Ishbia to:
Publicly oppose Amtrak’s proposed Bridgeport location.
Withdraw from any financing, purchase, agreement or development plan that depends on moving Amtrak’s maintenance operation into Bridgeport.
Call on Amtrak to pause all construction and irreversible work at the Canal Street Yard.
Disclose any agreements, financial commitments or understandings involving Shore Capital, Canal Edge, Amtrak or the proposed relocation.
Commit that no White Sox stadium or South Loop development proposal will depend on sacrificing Bridgeport.
Tell them directly:
If your plans depend on putting this facility beside our homes and park, change your plans. Bridgeport is not expendable.
Shore Capital Partners
info@shorecp.com
312-348-7580
CONTACT SENATORS TAMMY DUCKWORTH AND DICK DURBIN
Senators Duckworth and Durbin have pressed the FRA and Amtrak for more information. Thank them—but tell them that information alone is not enough.
Ask them to:
Publicly oppose the Bridgeport location.
Demand that Amtrak not use federal preemption to silence the City and community.
Obtain and release the complete federal environmental record.
Demand an examination of whether the review considered the project Amtrak now proposes to operate.
Call for a halt to construction and irreversible work while that record is scrutinized.
Press Amtrak to evaluate and use another location.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth
312-886-3506
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/connect/email-tammy
Sen. Dick Durbin
312-353-4952
https://www.durbin.senate.gov/contact
CONTACT GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER
Governor Pritzker is not a bystander.
This project touches Illinois transportation, rail safety, environmental protection, infrastructure and State-controlled property surrounding Rate Field.
Ask him:
Will you publicly oppose putting this facility beside Bridgeport homes and Armour Square Park?
Will you direct every relevant State agency to identify and use all of its authority?
Will the State refuse, to the fullest extent legally possible, discretionary funding, property access, agreements, approvals and other cooperation?
Will you direct State agencies to review the environmental, rail-safety and infrastructure impacts?
Will you demand that Amtrak release its federal environmental documentation before any construction begins?
We do not need another statement about “monitoring the situation.” We need the State of Illinois to fight for the people who live here.
Emily Bolton — Director of Agency Communications
Emily.Bolton@illinois.gov
Governor’s Press Office
Gov.Press@illinois.gov
Bria Scudder — Deputy Governor for Public Safety, Infrastructure, Environment and Energy
Bria.Scudder@illinois.gov
Governor’s constituent form
https://gov.illinois.gov/contact-us/voice-an-opinion.html
CONTACT ILLINOIS TRANSPORTATION, RAIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS
Ask these agencies:
What have you reviewed?
Has Amtrak contacted you or requested anything?
What State authority still applies?
What are you doing to protect Bridgeport residents and Armour Square Park?
Will you refuse discretionary cooperation and release your findings publicly?
Tell them to examine every potential impact involving rail safety, hazardous materials, diesel emissions, air pollution, noise, vibration, traffic, public infrastructure, drainage, water, soil contamination and emergency response.
IDOT Office of Communications
DOT.OOC@illinois.gov
Jason Osborn — IDOT Intermodal Project Implementation
Jason.Osborn@illinois.gov
Guy Tridgell — IDOT Communications
Guy.Tridgell@illinois.gov
Joanne Fehn — IDOT Bureau of Freight Rail Management
Joanne.Fehn@illinois.gov
Christopher Murauski — Rail Safety Program Administrator
Christopher.Murauski@illinois.gov
Kim Biggs — Illinois EPA
Kim.Biggs@illinois.gov
Brian Vercruysse — Illinois Commerce Commission
Brian.Vercruysse@illinois.gov
Do not let any office say “this is federal” and end the conversation there. Make them explain what authority they reviewed, what authority they still have and whether Amtrak has requested their assistance.
CONTACT LT. GOV. JULIANA STRATTON
Juliana Stratton is our current Lieutenant Governor, and she is asking Illinois voters to send her to the United States Senate.
If you want to represent Illinois in Washington, stand with an Illinois neighborhood asking for help right now.
Ask her:
Will you publicly oppose putting this proposed 24/7 Amtrak maintenance facility beside Bridgeport homes and historic Armour Square Park? Will you stand with residents and help stop this project at this location?
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
LtGovStratton@illinois.gov
LtGov.Press@illinois.gov
312-814-5240
U.S. Senate campaign
info@julianastratton.com
press@julianastratton.com
EMAIL AMTRAK DIRECTLY
Tell Amtrak to:
Abandon the proposed Bridgeport location.
Release the complete federal environmental determination and every document supporting it.
Explain exactly what was evaluated and when.
Stop using federal preemption to bypass local safeguards and silence the community.
Halt construction and irreversible work while the environmental record is reviewed.
Conduct a transparent evaluation of alternative locations.
Amtrak Media Relations
Media@Amtrak.com
Chicago Media Relations
MediaRelationsChicago@Amtrak.com
Joseph Shacter
joseph.shacter@amtrak.com
PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME SOMEBODY ELSE WILL DO THIS
Read and share the Sox Machine report:
If you have already signed this petition, send it to at least five people today and ask them to sign. Every signature, email, phone call and person who shows up matters.
Our position remains the same:
This project should not move forward in Bridgeport. Until Amtrak releases the environmental documentation it is relying upon and that federal review is fully scrutinized, there should be no construction or irreversible work at the site.
This is not a reason to back down. It is a reason to push harder.
This is our home. We are not disposable.
STOP AMTRAK BRIDGEPORT
www.stopamtrakbridgeport.com