Approximately 25 percent of all freight trains and 50 percent of all intermodal trains in the U.S. pass through metropolitan Chicago every year. An estimated $1 trillion worth of commercial goods pass through the Chicago region annually. The movement of goods is an important aspect of the Chicago economy.

This system, however, creates many negative outcomes that primarily impact Chicago's Black and Latinx communities, including air pollution, semi-truck traffic and congestion, and damage to existing infrastructure. This 3-day summit will be examining the recent expansion of Trucking, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL) facilities on the Southside, and how this expansion of warehouses and TDL facilities are impacting public and environmental health, and why it is not sustainable economic development to be pursued by the city. Expert panelists will dive into these issues, as well as many others.

Tell CDOT how rail freight affects you

Fill out their Rail Futures community survey here.

Panel Recordings

Tuesday, February 23

3:00pm – 3:55pm
"What does Freight and Trucking, Distribution and Logistics (TDL) look like?"
Panel Details

4:00pm – 5:00pm
"The Growth of Amazon Facilities"
Panel Details

Wednesday, February 24

3:00pm – 4:45pm
"The Impacts to Public Health"
Panel Details

Thursday, February 25

5:30pm – 6:25pm
"Just Transition and the Solutions to a Crisis"
Panel Details

6:30pm – 7:30pm
"What can Politicians do?"

This event is being cosponsored by the Chicago Environmental Justice Network (CEJN) and the Transportation Equity Network (TEN)