Chicago City Council Approves Long-Planned Norfolk Southern Rail Yard Expansion
The Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved a railroad expansion that has been years in the making despite local opposition — including from the alderman representing that area — over the acquisition of hundreds of homes in one of Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods.
Supporters of Norfolk Southern Railway’s $150-million plans to double the size of its intermodal freight yard in Englewood on Chicago’s South Side say it will be a boost to the neighborhood and the city, create jobs and reduce truck pollution, the Chicago Tribune reported.
However, the expansion also raised concerns over the impact of the project on the area and whether remaining nearby residents will gain anything from it, leading to 20th Ward Ald. Jeanette Taylor withholding her support until the last minute.
After the vote, the rail company issued a statement calling the project “a facility that will expand Chicago’s role as the heart of our nation’s supply chain.”
