Where Officials & Candidates Stand

Bridgeport residents have asked elected officials and candidates for mayor to take a clear position on Amtrak’s proposed 24/7 Midwest Maintenance Facility at the Canal Street Yard.

Our request is simple: Oppose the Canal Street location.

We support passenger rail, investment in Amtrak and the jobs associated with that investment. But we do not believe a major 24/7 industrial maintenance operation belongs beside homes, parks, and neighboring communities.

This page tracks documented public positions and government actions related to the Canal Street proposal.

Last updated: October 2, 2026

Government Action

Chicago City Council

On September 23, 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee introduced a City Council resolution calling for hearings into Amtrak’s proposed Midwest Maintenance Facility and asking for greater scrutiny of the project.

The resolution calls for examination of:

• why the Canal Street Yard was selected;

• what alternative locations were considered;

• the federal environmental review conducted for the project; and

• potential effects on surrounding communities and shared rail operations.

It also asks Amtrak to pause construction plans while the project and its environmental review receive further public scrutiny.

As of October 2, 35 members of the 50-member Chicago City Council are sponsors of the resolution.

Status: Introduced September 23 and referred for further consideration.

(Source: Chicago Councilmatic, Resolution R2026-0028877)

Chicago City Council — Opposes the Canal Street Location

On October 14, 2026, the full Chicago City Council adopted a resolution opposing the proposed Amtrak maintenance facility at Canal Street Yard. The resolution followed the October 7 hearing before the Committee on Transportation and Public Way, where alderpeople questioned Amtrak representatives about site selection, environmental review, and effects on surrounding neighborhoods.

Introduced by 11th Ward Alderwoman Nicole Lee, the measure advanced from committee to adoption by the full Council.

Status: Adopted October 14, 2026.

The Council’s action adds Chicago’s legislative body to the public officials and government bodies standing with residents against this location. Community efforts to stop the Canal Street proposal continue.

Cook County Board

On September 24, the Cook County Board approved a resolution opposing the proposed Amtrak Midwest Maintenance Facility at the Union Pacific Canal Yard “in its current form and location.”

Introduced by Commissioner John P. Daley and sponsored by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and 16 additional commissioners, the resolution identifies concerns including diesel emissions, noise, vibration, hazardous materials, fuel and wastewater, stormwater runoff, soil and groundwater contamination, industrial lighting, construction impacts and cumulative environmental effects.

It also calls on Amtrak and relevant government agencies to pause further advancement of the project until its environmental and community impacts have been comprehensively assessed and made available for public review.

Status: Approved September 24, 2026.

(Source: Cook County Board, Resolution 26-2333)

2027 Chicago Mayoral Candidates

The proposed Canal Street facility is emerging as an issue in Chicago’s 2027 mayoral race.

We are tracking what candidates have publicly said about the project. A candidate’s inclusion in a section below reflects only the public position we have been able to document. It is not an endorsement or evaluation of any candidate.

Publicly Oppose the Canal Street Location

Mike Quigley

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley has publicly opposed locating the maintenance facility at Canal Street.

At a September 8 news conference in Bridgeport, Quigley said Amtrak needs a modern maintenance facility but that the residential neighborhood is not the appropriate location. He also warned Amtrak against using federal preemption to force the project over community opposition.

(Source: WBEZ, September 8, 2026)

Susana Mendoza

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has joined Bridgeport residents in opposing the proposed relocation.

Mendoza participated in the September 8 news conference with residents and other officials opposing the Canal Street proposal. She has also criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the project and called for Amtrak and the City of Chicago to pursue an alternative location.

(Source: WBEZ and local coverage, September 2026)

John Kelly

Mayoral candidate John Kelly publicly pledged on October 1 to work to stop Amtrak’s proposed move to Bridgeport if elected.

Speaking at the City Club of Chicago, Kelly said he would use his relationships and experience in city and state government to try to prevent the Canal Street project from moving forward.

Because Amtrak has asserted federal preemption over local zoning and development requirements, the extent of a Chicago mayor’s legal authority to stop the project remains contested. Kelly’s statement nevertheless represents a clear public commitment to oppose the Canal Street location.

(Source: Chicago Sun-Times, October 1, 2026)

Maria Pappas

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has said she plans to run for mayor in 2027 and has publicly joined residents and other elected officials opposing the Canal Street proposal.

Pappas participated in the September 8 Bridgeport news conference at which elected officials called on Amtrak to reconsider the location.

(Source: WBEZ; CBS Chicago)

Concerns Raised, But No Public Opposition Identified

Alexi Giannoulias

Illinois Secretary of State and mayoral candidate Alexi Giannoulias has said Bridgeport residents deserve clear answers about the proposal and greater transparency from Amtrak.

In a September 10 interview with CBS Chicago, however, Giannoulias stopped short of saying Amtrak should halt the Canal Street project.

Position: Concerns raised; no public statement opposing the Canal Street location identified as of October 2.

(Source: CBS Chicago, September 10, 2026)

No Public Position on the Canal Street Location Identified

As of October 2, we have not identified a public statement taking a position on the Canal Street location from the following announced mayoral candidates:

• Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

• George Cardenas, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner

• Matt Brewer, former Chicago Housing Authority board chair

• Lisa Nee, physician and public-policy adviser

• Joe Holberg, entrepreneur and former teacher

• Willie Wilson, businessman

• Zoe Ma, real estate developer

• Danielle Carter-Walters, small-business owner and community activist

• Toni Brooks, veteran and nonprofit leader

• Bill Quinlan, attorney

Chicago’s mayoral field remains fluid. Candidates must file nominating petitions by October 26, and the final ballot may differ from the current field.

(Source for current candidate field: CBS Chicago, updated September 29, 2026)

Have we missed a statement? If a candidate has publicly addressed the Canal Street proposal, please send us the statement, interview, post or other source so we can update this page.

Other Elected Officials

Publicly Oppose the Canal Street Location

Ald. Nicole Lee, 11th Ward

Ald. Lee has unequivocally opposed locating the proposed maintenance facility in the 11th Ward.

She has repeatedly called on Amtrak to reconsider the Canal Street location, pressed the company for information about its environmental review and alternatives analysis, and introduced the September 23 City Council resolution seeking hearings and further scrutiny.

Cook County Commissioner John P. Daley

Commissioner Daley has publicly opposed the Canal Street location.

He submitted a letter to Amtrak opposing the proposal and introduced Cook County Resolution 26-2333, which the County Board approved on September 24.

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis

Rep. Davis publicly joined residents and fellow elected officials at the September 8 Bridgeport news conference opposing the proposed Canal Street facility and calling for Amtrak to reconsider the location.

State Rep. Theresa Mah, 24th District

Rep. Mah has publicly joined residents and other elected officials opposing the Canal Street proposal and has said she and allies in Springfield would use available means to challenge the plans.

Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd Ward

Ald. Dowell publicly joined the September 8 opposition to the Canal Street proposal and is also among the sponsors of the September 23 City Council resolution.

(Source for September 8 elected-official positions: WBEZ)

Concerns Raised, But No Public Opposition Identified

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth

On August 27, Sen. Duckworth joined Sen. Dick Durbin in requesting additional information from Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration after hearing concerns from Bridgeport residents and local elected officials.

The senators sought additional information about the proposed relocation and its potential effects, including noise, safety and traffic.

Position: No stated position. At an October 2 meeting with residents, staff were asked directly whether Sen.Duckworth opposes the Canal Street location. Staff did not provide a yes-or-no answer and said they would take the question to the Senator.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin

Sen. Durbin joined Sen. Duckworth in the August 27 letter requesting additional information from Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration and calling for greater transparency and communication with affected communities.

Position: No public statement opposing the Canal Street location identified as of October 2.

Gov. JB Pritzker

Gov. Pritzker has publicly acknowledged residents’ concerns about the proposal and has said the parties involved should listen to the community.

Position: Concerns acknowledged, but no public statement opposing the Canal Street location identified as of October 2.

No Public Position Opposing Canal Street Identified

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton

Residents have asked Lt. Gov. Stratton to take a position on locating the Amtrak maintenance facility at Canal Street.

Position: No public statement opposing the Canal Street location identified as of October 2.

Why We're Tracking This

Amtrak continues to advance plans for the Canal Street facility.

At the same time, opposition and demands for additional scrutiny have expanded substantially.

The Cook County Board has now formally opposed the project in its current form and location. Thirty-five Chicago alderpeople are sponsoring a resolution calling for hearings into the site-selection and environmental-review process. Members of Congress, state and local officials and candidates for mayor have also begun taking positions.

Residents should not have to guess where the people who represent them, or seek to represent them, stand on a project that could affect surrounding communities for decades.

Our position remains straightforward:

We do not want the Amtrak maintenance facility at the Canal Street Yard.

We are asking Amtrak to identify an appropriate alternative away from residential neighborhoods, and we are asking public officials and candidates to tell Chicago residents clearly where they stand.

What We're Asking Public Officials to Do

Oppose the Canal Street location.

Call on Amtrak to identify and fully evaluate alternative sites away from residential neighborhoods.

Call for public release of the environmental studies, alternatives analysis and other records underlying the decision to select Canal Street.

Use available governmental, legislative, regulatory and legal avenues to scrutinize the Canal Street proposal.

Demand transparency about how Canal Street was selected, what alternatives were considered, what environmental analysis was conducted and why the project proceeded through a federal categorical exclusion rather than a full Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement.

Is Something Here Incorrect or Out of Date?

We want this page to accurately represent every official’s and candidate’s documented public position.

If someone listed here has issued a statement, taken additional action or changed their position, please send us the relevant statement, interview, letter, social-media post or other public record.

We will update this page as new information becomes available.