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Letters of opposition
These are letters from elected officials, village boards and regional bodies opposing the O’Hare Flyer/Great Western Railroad.
They reach the same conclusion: the affected communities have not been given the impact analyses — on traffic, public safety, emergency response, noise, vibration, or infrastructure — and the project should not move forward in its current form.
September 29, 2026 Jim Taglia Oak Park Village Trustee Writing in the Wednesday Journal, an Oak Park trustee states his opposition and says Oak Park should stand with River Forest and the other affected communities in insisting on transparency, data and meaningful engagement. He echoes the finding common to the other letters: affected municipalities have not been given adequate information or complete analyses on traffic, public safety, emergency response, noise, vibration or infrastructure demands, and are being asked to judge a project without understanding its consequences. He notes the project threatens Thatcher Woods, a regional resource Oak Parkers use year round, and argues that investment in the CTA Blue and Green Lines, which already serve thousands of Oak Park residents daily, would be a better use of public funds than a service that would pass the village by. He calls on the sponsors to release detailed plans for public review, and asks residents to contact Senator Don Harmon, Representative Camille Lilly and Commissioner Tara Stamps.
September 28, 2026 — River Forest Village Board Response to the sponsors, with 50 questions The board declines a River Forest-only meeting and asks instead for a single regional session covering every community on the route. It sets out what it expects to see first: impact studies on noise, health and drainage, an environmental review including Thatcher Woods, safety and traffic plans for the Madison, First and Fifth Avenue crossings, and plans for the 200 homes sitting 50 feet from the tracks. Attached is a four-page list of 50 questions — who the investors are, what public money is sought, gate-down times, emergency response modeling, tree removal in Thatcher Woods, and who pays to remove the structures if the service fails.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 River Forest Village Board Resolution R-26-10, passed unanimously The board resolved to oppose the project and asked its sponsors to stop advancing it, to explore alternative routes that do not adversely affect River Forest and neighboring communities, and to provide substantially more information. More than 150 residents filled the Fox Auditorium at Trinity High School; twenty spoke against the project and one spoke for it. The village is retaining consultants to evaluate the proposal, and intends to submit its opposition to the Surface Transportation Board as part of any applicable federal review.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 Mayor Ronald Serpico Village of Melrose Park Trains would cross First Avenue, Fifth Avenue and George Street every few minutes, with no grade separation plans proposed. The village's commercial and industrial districts — its economic backbone — would be directly and substantially affected, and prolonged closures would complicate truck routing, limit roadway capacity and raise transportation costs for employers. Copied to Senator Harmon, Senator Lightford, Representative Hernández, Speaker Welch, and River Forest Village President Adduci.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 West Central Municipal Conference Richard Pellegrino, Executive Director The West Central Municipal Conference represents every suburb along the proposed route. A regional council of government with 37 member communities, including every suburb on this line. Frequent rail closures on major north–south corridors would disrupt daily commutes and slow emergency response. Added delays at grade crossings would threaten delivery schedules, worker access and business productivity, driving up transportation costs. The letter also names unknown impacts on wildlife and the ecosystem. Copied to Senators Durbin and Duckworth, Senators Harmon and Lightford, Speaker Welch, and Representatives Hernández and Lilly.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 Commissioner Maggie Trevor Cook County Board, 9th District The route will bisect Thatcher Woods, one of the most important natural areas in the Forest Preserve system for both its biodiversity and for the recreation of Cook County residents. The letter warns that ongoing protective barriers may interfere with wildlife moving through the preserve, with unknown impacts to the ecosystem, and calls for a comprehensive environmental assessment. It also notes that no alternative for faster or more frequent service to O'Hare using existing Metra and CTA corridors has been evaluated in a way that allows meaningful comparison. Copied to Board President Toni Preckwinkle and to Adam Bianchi, General Superintendent of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
Help secure more opposition letters
A letter from a village board, an alderman, or a state legislator carries weight that a petition does not, and every one of them can be asked.
