The project must pass through several public bodies. Each is a place where residents can be heard. Local zoning is not one of them — federal railroad law mostly preempts it — so we concentrate on the venues that count.
Who decides, and when
Chicago City Council
The sponsor’s target: an ordinance in the first half of 2027.
This is the decisive vote. Ask your alderman to require, before any hearing: binding agreements with all three railroads; a financing plan with committed equity; an independent ridership study; the names of every partner firm; and which LLC series would sign the City’s contracts. Find your alderman.
Village of River Forest
Village Board meets the second and fourth Mondays, 7 p.m., 400 Park Avenue. Next: September 14, 2026.
President Cathy Adduci and the Board of Trustees have declared opposition. Tell them you support it. Contact the Board. Public records: River Forest FOIA.
Your state legislators
River Forest has already contacted Senate President Harmon, Majority Leader Lightford, Speaker Welch, and Rep. Lilly.
Ask them to fund the Metra O’Hare study through construction, and to keep state land, forest preserve land, and state money out of a private express that stops nowhere in their districts. Sen. President Don Harmon (district office 708-848-2002) · Sen. Kimberly Lightford · Speaker Chris Welch · Rep. Camille Lilly. Find yours.
Your members of Congress
Sen. Durbin and Rep. Ramirez secured the Metra study funding.
Sen. Dick Durbin · Sen. Tammy Duckworth · Rep. Danny Davis (IL-7). Ask them to carry the A-2 flyover and Metra capacity as federal priorities.
Northern Illinois Transit Authority
First board meeting September 10, 2026.
Ask the board to declare Canadian National corridor capacity north of Franklin Park a public asset to be planned for Metra service, and to prioritize the A-2 flyover and the Blue Line Forest Park rebuild.
Illinois Commerce Commission
Every new grade crossing, grade separation, or crossing closure requires an ICC order.
The sponsor’s plan touches nine crossings, including a proposed closure of Chestnut Street and four crossings that may stay at grade. Crossing safety concerns: ICC complaints.
Surface Transportation Board
Docket FD 36873 (Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger); any filing by “Great Western Railroad.”
Residents and municipalities can file comments seeking conditions that protect Metra’s access to UP and CN corridors. We will post a model comment.
Federal Aviation Administration
Required for the 90-foot structure over O’Hare taxiways.
The airport structure needs FAA airspace review and an airport layout plan change, with federal environmental review. We will post the filing when it appears.
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