Residents opposed to the proposed O'Hare Flyer express train through River Forest are organizing two public events in the coming days, even as the new regional transit agency shapes its first budget around rider feedback.

STOP, short for Stop The O'Hare Passthrough, is urging residents to show up at the Oak Park Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 31. Metra representatives also plan to be at the market to discuss expanded service to O'Hare from Union Station, the Wednesday Journal reported. STOP is encouraging supporters to tell Metra they want frequent North Central Service (NCS) Line trains to O'Hare every 30 minutes, all day.

A second community meeting on the Flyer's potential impacts is set for Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Thatcher Woods Pavilion, 8030 Chicago Ave. That follows an Oct. 17 gathering at Thatcher Woods that drew more than 65 people.

The privately funded O'Hare Flyer would send battery-electric trains through River Forest at 80 mph every 15 minutes, according to O'Hare Flyer LLC CEO David Lundy, as reported by the Forest Park Review. The proposed route would run north between Forest and Park avenues, over Chicago Avenue and through Thatcher Woods on its way to O'Hare Airport.

River Forest hires opposition team

River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci expressed the village's opposition in an Aug. 26 communication to residents. The village board voted unanimously at its Sept. 26 meeting to hire public relations firm Jasculca-Terman and the Oak Park-based Prescott Group to build opposition, the Wednesday Journal reported.

The village also retained Washington, D.C., railroad attorney Daniel Elliott of GKG Law, capped at $25,000, to handle federal regulatory work. Elliott previously served two terms on the federal Surface Transportation Board, which regulates freight railroads.

Jasculca-Terman will be paid $5,575 a month for routine communications and $5,000 a month for strategy work on the Flyer issue. The Prescott Group will receive $6,500 a month for state-level advocacy.

New transit agency builds first budget

The Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), which replaced the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) on Sept. 1, is developing its first budget for fiscal year 2027. The agency oversees the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace.

NITA hosted an open house at Union Station on Oct. 14 to gather public input. Melissa Meyer, NITA's communications manager, said feedback from the meetings will shape the agency's budget, service planning and capital work.

"We want to see where things are working and do more of it and where things are not and how we can fix it," Meyer said.

A draft budget is scheduled for release on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The NITA board will vote on final approval in December after a public comment period.

Meyer said the agency is focused on improving connections at transit hubs where CTA, Metra and Pace services meet but don't link up well. She pointed to the Green Line terminus at Harlem Avenue, where it intersects with a Metra stop, as one example.

Metra network plan backs O'Hare service

In its draft Systemwide Network Plan (SNP) released Oct. 16, Metra said O'Hare Airport "emerged as a major trip generator" in each future scenario it studied. The agency selected the NCS Line for crosstown service to the airport.

Current Metra service between O'Hare and Union Station is indirect, infrequent and would require substantial investment to upgrade, the Wednesday Journal reported. STOP acknowledged that the Metra alternative, like the Flyer, would need cooperation from freight railroads including BNSF and Union Pacific.

The broader Metra system upgrades are estimated at $9 billion. About $2.7 billion is earmarked for new rolling stock, track additions and signaling.

Metra will hold a virtual public meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. to share draft results of the network plan.