BRIDGEPORT — Some neighbors are up in arms over Amtrak’s plan to relocate its maintenance facility from the South Loop to Bridgeport, a move that could leave the neighborhood with a new industrial facility — and without a major league baseball team.
Amtrak officials on Thursday detailed plans for the $900 train maintenance facility on existing rail infrastructure that runs north-south through Bridgeport. Construction on the project is set to kick off next year and be complete by 2028, officials said at a community meeting at the Armour Square Fieldhouse, 3309 S. Shields Ave.
Neighbors at the meeting had pointed questions for officials and criticism of the plan, including concerns over pollution and the possible domino effect the relocation plan could have for the White Sox’s proposed move from Bridgeport.
“Amtrak wins, the Sox win and the state wins,” said Bridgeport native Rob Hart. “Everyone wins except the residents of Bridgeport.”
Last week, Amtrak announced that it had secured nearly $600 million in grant funding from the Federal Railroad Administration to move its Midwest Maintenance Facility, located roughly near Canal Street and Roosevelt Road, to a largely unused Union Pacific yard in Bridgeport. An additional $87 million grant was allocated toward infrastructure improvements for the rail yard’s crumbling viaducts and bridges.
A Bridgeport resident raises her hand at a public meeting addressing Amtrak’s new maintenance facility in the neighborhood. Aug. 20, 2026. Credit: Charles Thrush/Block Club Chicago
The new facility and rail yard will run along a stretch of South Canal Street from West 33rd to 35th streets, adjacent to the White Sox’s Rate Field, 333 W. 35th St. It will include an eight-track rail yard to the north, along 33rd Street, and a four-story maintenance building to the south, along 35th Street.
“For years, Amtrak’s Midwest and national rail customers and state partners have been desiring improved on-time performance. Investments in maintenance facilities will achieve that outcome,” interim Amtrak President Byl Herrmann said in a statement. “With these grants, Amtrak is able to accelerate those goals by more than a decade while improving conditions to deliver a safe, reliable, and efficient passenger rail service for years to come.”
The move of Amtrak’s facility from the South Loop to Bridgeport could free up space that has been floated as a possible site for a new White Sox stadium.
Businessman Justin Ishbia, who has the option to buy a majority stake in the Sox in 2029, contributed an additional $125 million to the relocation project through Canal Edge, his newly formed LLC developing the project, according to Amtrak.
Ishbia is under contract to finance the construction of a mixed-use Northwestern Medicine medical campus at Amtrak’s former 14th Street Coach Yard, though he’s rumored to be considering moving the Sox to that location, too.
The 14th Street yard sits across the river from the future site of The 78, the South Loop’s massive redevelopment project that is home to the Chicago Fire’s new stadium. Current Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf has unsuccessfully sought funding to move the Sox to The 78.
In either scenario, a White Sox relocation would be the team’s first venture outside of Bridgeport in its 126-year history in Chicago.
“As the heart of America’s passenger rail network, Chicago deserves infrastructure that supports its vital role for decades to come,” Ishbia said in a statement. “By committing substantial private capital and standing behind the delivery of this project, we are investing in the South Side, creating union jobs and building infrastructure that will strengthen Chicago and the national rail network for generations.”
Amtrak officials touted the benefits a new facility in Bridgeport could bring to the system on Thursday, emphasizing the poor state and small size of the existing facility in the South Loop.
“The buildings at the old site were not large enough for us to house full trains inside the building to conduct [maintenance] work,” said Steven Segerlin, Amtrak’s head of commercial development. “We are looking at constructing a new facility at the Canal Street Yard to modernize operations.”
The South Loop railyard is seen from the PetSmart parking lot at 1101 S Canal St. on Monday, April 6, 2026. Credit: Jeremy Battle/Block Club Chicago
Segerlin attempted to curb criticism of the announcement during Thursday’s meeting by informing residents of the $87 million grant for viaduct improvements, the project’s non-intrusive LED lighting system meant to reduce light pollution and the 3,000 union jobs brought to the site during its 18-month construction timeline.
Neighbors only continued to protest Amtrak’s presentation.
“It sounds like you already made the deal. Does it even matter what we say?” one woman asked. “This is a residential community and you guys are building an industrial facility. You don’t care about the neighborhood.”
Another neighbor asked Amtrak officials if they could provide insight into the project’s impact on the future of the White Sox stadium. Officials didn’t comment on Ishbia’s ties between the baseball team and the new facility and train yard.
Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) told neighbors that the projects weren’t directly linked but reaffirmed her commitment to keeping the White Sox in Bridgeport.
“We’ve all heard that this could or might be connected to a move by the White Sox,” she said. “Well, I’ve been told that this is not the case. I hope that it does not prove to be true. The White Sox are going to stay right here in the 11th Ward on 35th Street.”
In a statement on social media this week, Lee said she shared neighbors’ concerns about the project, including that it could “create significant health, noise, environmental, traffic and safety issues for the surrounding residential neighborhood.”
Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) addresses residents at a public meeting discussing Amtrak’s new maintenance facility in Bridgeport. Aug. 20, 2026. Credit: Charles Thrush/Block Club Chicago
Amtrak was granted a categorical exclusion from federal environmental regulations for the project, according to Segerlin. Categorical exclusions are typically given to projects that “normally do not involve significant environmental impacts,” according to Federal Railroad Administration policy.
Amtrak declined to comment on factors leading to the exclusion of the project.
“How can a facility that’s going to operate maintain these locomotives running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, not add to pollution, not add to the waste and not have pollution effects from diesel fuel?” Hart asked.
Another community meeting about the project is scheduled for Aug. 26 at Pui Tak Center, 2218 S. Wentworth Ave.