WHEREAS, the Village of River Forest is an Illinois municipality established in 1880 committed to protecting the health, safety, welfare, and quality of life of its residents, including preserving the esteemed historic character of the community and surrounding natural environment; and
WHEREAS, a proposal known as the “O’Hare Flyer” has been presented as a high-speed passenger rail connection between downtown Chicago and O’Hare International Airport that would utilize rail infrastructure through multiple communities, including the Village of River Forest; and
WHEREAS, the proposed O’Hare Flyer, currently in the preliminary planning stages, would operate at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour, with trains travelling through River Forest every few minutes from approximately 4:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, the proposed route would utilize rail infrastructure through established residential neighborhoods of the Village, raising serious reservations regarding pedestrian and vehicular safety, emergency response times, traffic congestion, and crossing delays; and
WHEREAS, the proposed route would bisect Thatcher Woods, one of the most valuable ecosystems in the Forest Preserves of Cook County system, with unknown impacts on wildlife and biodiversity; and
WHEREAS, the Village also has serious reservations regarding the potential impacts of the Flyer on public health & safety, noise, vibration, infrastructure, neighborhood character, and the overall quality of life of River Forest residents; and
WHEREAS, the Village has not been provided with sufficient information or comprehensive analysis regarding the proposed project’s impacts on public safety, emergency response times, traffic, at-grade crossings, noise, infrastructure, and surrounding neighborhoods and there has been no collaborative planning effort by the O’Hare Flyer group; and
WHEREAS, Village officials have shared resident concerns directly with Union Pacific Railroad and Canadian National Railway and urged the railroads to not allow use of their rail property by the O’Hare Flyer; and
WHEREAS, the Village has filed a Notice of Intent to Participate with the Surface Transportation Board regarding the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger, allowing for formal involvement and communication by the Village in future proceedings; and
WHEREAS, the Village of River Forest hereby expresses its strong opposition to the proposed O’Hare Flyer project and urges the project sponsors and applicable governmental and regulatory agencies to explore alternative options, including improvements to Metra and CTA lines that already serve the airport and Chicagoland communities; and
WHEREAS, the Village Board finds that it is in the best interests of the residents of the Village of River Forest to formally express its strong opposition to the O’Hare Flyer; and
WHEREAS, the Village calls on fellow municipalities to oppose the O’Hare Flyer, and specifically
requests State Senators Don Harmon and Kimberly Lightford, Representatives Emanuel ‘Chris’
Welch and Camille Lilly, Commissioner Maggie Trevor, Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Tammy
Duckworth to not take any action allowing for the development of the O’Hare Flyer; and
WHEREAS, the Village requests meaningful opportunities for the Village Board, Village staff, and
residents to review project information and provide input throughout the planning, review, and
approval process.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Each Whereas paragraph above is incorporated by reference into this Section 1 and
made part hereof as material and operative provisions of this Resolution.
SECTION 2: The President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest urge the project
sponsors of the O’Hare Flyer to cease advancing their plans and explore alternative route options for the O’Hare Flyer.
SECTION 3: The Village Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this resolution to the project
sponsors of the O’Hare Flyer, Members of the Illinois General Assembly, the Illinois Commerce
Commission, Members of the Chicago City Council, Members of the Northern Illinois Transit
Authority Board of Directors, Cook County Board of Commissioners, Mayors of municipalities
along the proposed route, the West Central Municipal Conference, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus,
Illinois Municipal League and the Governor of the State of Illinois and submit this resolution as
part of a formal letter of its strong opposition with the Surface Transportation Board and other
regulatory agencies as appropriate.
SECTION 4: The President and Board of Trustees directs Village staff to take necessary steps to
procure the services of experts in the fields of railroad transportation and regulatory bodies to
advocate on behalf of Village interests and continue formally objecting to the proposed O’Hare
Flyer plan in River Forest during all review proceedings regarding the proposal.
SECTION 5: This Resolution shall be effective immediately from and after its passage of approval.