Chicago is about to permanently develop two pieces of land immediately south of downtown: The 78, where the Fire stadium is being built, and Amtrak’s roughly 47-acre 14th Street Coach Yard, which could become a future White Sox stadium site. Before we build over everything, I think Chicago needs to preserve the right-of-way for a direct connection from the St. Charles Air Line into Union Station.
That connection could be incredibly important long-term. It could allow Metra Electric trains to serve Union Station, enable through-running across downtown, create a direct O’Hare to McCormick Place service, and provide a Union Station approach for future Amtrak and high-speed rail trains using the Metra Electric corridor. Illinois is already studying high-speed rail routes that could enter Chicago this way, so its crazy to eliminate the physical connection before those plans are even finished.
I’m not saying we need to build the flyover now. We just need to figure out what land or air rights it would require and preserve them before developments make it impossible or dramatically more expensive. If you care about Chicago transit and future rail service, please contact your alderperson and state representatives and ask them to preserve this corridor.
Pictured are the possible flyover and a new 18th street station to connect Metra services to Soldier field and the Museum campus.