The River Forest Village Board voted unanimously Monday, Sept. 14, to oppose the proposed O'Hare Flyer. The $2.25 billion project would send high-speed trains through the village every 15 minutes.

More than 100 residents packed the Fox Auditorium at Trinity High School, 7574 Division St., for the meeting. The board moved the session there to handle the crowd. Over roughly 90 minutes of public comment, 20 people spoke against the project. One spoke in favor.

The resolution urges O'Hare Flyer LLC to stop advancing its plans and explore alternative routes. It also asks state and federal officials, including Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Chris Welch, to block the project's development. And it calls on other municipalities along the proposed route to join the opposition.

Some already have. On the same day, Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico sent a letter opposing the project to O'Hare Flyer CEO Dave Lundy, a lobbyist and communications consultant. Cook County Board member Maggie Trevor and Ronald Pellegrino, executive director of the West Central Municipal Conference (WCMC), also sent opposition letters, according to the Wednesday Journal.

Pellegrino warned that communities along the route could face increased congestion, longer travel times and slower emergency response from frequent rail closures on major north-south corridors.

The O'Hare Flyer would be a privately funded, battery-electric train running at about 80 mph on or alongside existing rail lines between downtown Chicago and O'Hare Airport. Trains would operate from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The proposed route through River Forest would pass between Forest and Park avenues over Chicago Avenue, Iowa Street, Augusta Street and Thatcher Avenue before continuing through Thatcher Woods, according to the Forest Park Review.

Village President Cathy Adduci said she met with Lundy in 2025 and again in the summer of 2026 but received almost no project details. She and Village Administrator Matt Walsh met with Lundy and Harmon at Harmon's Oak Park office in July. That meeting revealed the proposed route, but Adduci said she still received no renderings. She said she never signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Renu Shah, a steering committee member of the newly formed group S.T.O.P. (Stop the O'Hare Passthrough), told the board it takes a village to stand up to a politically connected company that wants to run high-speed trains past homes, schools and hospitals around the clock.

Resident Ron Steele urged the crowd to pressure Harmon directly, noting the Senate president has not opposed the project. When the Wednesday Journal sought comment Tuesday, Sept. 15, Harmon's office resent a previously issued statement in which Harmon said he would like to hear from neighbors most directly impacted.

Erik Huston, the sole supporter among public commenters, argued that fast airport rail service would cut car traffic and benefit the region.

O'Hare Flyer spokesman John Digles said in an emailed statement that the company was not invited to the meeting and has not received an invitation to meet with the board. Digles said the team is committed to presenting the project in detail and addressing what it called misunderstandings.

No date has been set for a meeting between the board and O'Hare Flyer LLC.