Residents Protest Amtrak’s Maintenance Facility Plans Near Rate Field

Hundreds of residents from Bridgeport, Chinatown, and Armour Square gathered at Rate Field on Tuesday morning. They protested plans by Amtrak and billionaire Justin Ishbia to establish a large railroad maintenance facility nearby. The potential move of the White Sox out of the team’s longtime home on the South Side also fueled concerns.

Alderman Nicole Lee of the 11th Ward expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of prior notice to the residents. The proposal, announced in August, caught the community off guard. She emphasized the community’s desire to retain the White Sox and avoid the railroad’s presence in Bridgeport. Lee stated, “We’re obviously seriously alarmed. That yard is going to be right over your shoulder. Our community feels pretty disrespected. If it’s approved, it would drive a knife through the heart of this community.”

Amtrak’s $900 million plan would make room for Ishbia, a minority White Sox owner, to build a new riverfront stadium at 14th Street. This would expose South Side residents to pollution from Amtrak trains, according to Lee. “No 24-hour maintenance facility belongs in a residential area,” she asserted. Amtrak did not respond to inquiries for their comments.

A press conference took place across from Rate Field on September 8, 2026. Community activists and politicians, including Cook County Commissioner John Daley and various mayoral contenders, opposed Amtrak’s plan. State Representative Theresa Mah from the 24th District declared the community’s strong opposition. U.S. Representative Mike Quigley, who is running for mayor, acknowledged the need for a new, modern facility but criticized the urgency to build it in Bridgeport.

Quigley and others, like Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, emphasized the necessity of a full environmental review. Amtrak’s proposal included a four-story maintenance facility along a railroad viaduct just north of 35th Street, currently used by Union Pacific. Mendoza stressed the importance of transparency, stating, “(The community) deserves full transparency now, not after the decision has been made.”

Reinsdorf, in 2024, proposed moving the White Sox to a new stadium at The 78, a South Loop site. This plan failed due to its requirement for substantial public subsidies and opposition from Springfield.

Ishbia revealed his proposal for development at 14th Street, called The Railyards, on Saturday. Renderings depict a new White Sox ballpark at Amtrak’s present maintenance location near the Chicago River. The mixed-use campus would focus largely on healthcare, featuring Northwestern Medicine. Ishbia purchased a minority stake in the White Sox five years ago, with an option to acquire controlling interest after 2034 from Jerry Reinsdorf. The team’s lease at Rate Field expires in 2029.

Ishbia would purchase Amtrak’s 47-acre facility on 14th Street after the railroad gained control of the railyard near Rate Field. He declared the new White Sox stadium would be privately funded. Ishbia is engaged in Amtrak’s Bridgeport plan through his development firm, Canal Edge, and intends to invest $125 million into the new facility. Crain’s Chicago Business reported the latest White Sox stadium proposal.

The White Sox’s current ownership noted that discussions about moving Amtrak and constructing a new stadium are not finalized. A spokesperson stated that the team was unaware of Amtrak’s full plans prior to their announcement. Justin Ishbia approached the White Sox with his vision for Canal Edge as a prospective future site for their next stadium. He agreed to perform a thorough evaluation of the site.

Mayor Brandon Johnson maintained neutrality regarding Ishbia’s proposal when asked if he supported the new stadium. “No official decision has been made here,” he conveyed at an unrelated news conference. Johnson highlighted the importance of community input in economic development. He refrained from commenting on the stadium or potential use of tax increment financing dollars for construction. Johnson pictured Ishbia’s plan as an indicator of business confidence in Chicago’s growth.

Amtrak announced in August its receipt of nearly $700 million in federal funds to acquire the Union Pacific site near Rate Field. Interim Amtrak President Byl Herrmann emphasized modern facilities as vital for customer service improvements. “Investments in maintenance facilities will achieve that outcome,” Herrmann stated. Amtrak’s plan will accelerate performance improvements long desired by Midwest and national rail customers.

An Amtrak spokesperson mentioned an exemption from a federal environmental review granted by the previous U.S. administration. Lee expressed concern, labeling the exemption a “red flag.” She acknowledged uncertainty about city officials’ power to stop Amtrak’s current plans, which might bypass local zoning due to the federal exemption. Alderman Pat Dowell, from the 3rd Ward, attended the protest and highlighted the lack of community engagement. “No formal plan has been submitted to the city of Chicago,” she noted. “A project of this scale typically involves community participation, which currently seems led by Washington, D.C., not Chicago.”