Community resistance meets Norfolk Southern effort to expand Chicago rail yard

By | January 13, 2023

Residents near 47th Street Yard project question lack of local hiring, road and pollution impacts

Norfolk Southern’s 47th Street Yard, with the area of planned expansion directly to its south. Google Earth

CHICAGO — Norfolk Southern efforts to expand a rail yard on Chicago’s South Side have run into resistance from local residents concerned the railroad has not followed through on promises of job opportunities, as well as on the effects of the surrounding neighborhood.

Local news site Block Club Chicago reports the railroad is continuing work to expand its 47th Street Yard, with plans to add intermodal trailer parking between Garfield Boulevard and 59th Street. A pending City Council ordinance would transfer streets and alleys in that area to NS. The city had previously sold 105 city-owned vacant lots to the railroad for $1.1 million under a 2013 agreement, and agreed to swap additional land with the railroad in a 2014 deal. The land the city received will be used to create a new trail.

Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor, who represents the area, and about a dozen residents attended a meeting this week at Kennedy King College with railroad officials on the latest expansion plans. Those in attendance voiced concerns that the expansion had not led to jobs that had been promised. They also said truck traffic to and from the yard was damaging streets and increasing pollution.

The railroad says it has exceeded requirements from a 2013 agreement requiring it to hiring a minimum of 24% minority-owned and 4% woman-owned business for its construction work, and that a large number of other jobs will be going to bid once the current project is able to move forward. In response to a query from local residents, it said has hired 50 residents from seven South Side zip codes since 2014, only five of which were actively employed as of November 2022.

Taylor had delayed the ordinance regarding the street transfer while seeking studies on the health impacts of the project and more employment of local residents. She now says she plans to “hold the railway company accountable,” with community meetings, and will vote against the ordinance if it comes up for a vote later this month.

“Norfolk Southern needs to listen to my community and do what they have asked,” Taylor said, according to Block Club. “I’m not working against the betterment of my community.”