September 2026
MacKay is excited to be supporting the O’Hare Flyer, a proposed express rail service designed to connect downtown Chicago with O’Hare International Airport in just 15 minutes.
The project envisions battery-electric trains operating every 15 minutes between a downtown station near Chicago’s Old Post Office and O’Hare Airport Terminal 2. The service would use dedicated track and existing freight railroad rights-of-way, creating a direct connection between two of Chicago’s most important transportation hubs.
For MacKay, the project represents an opportunity to contribute our transport and infrastructure expertise to a forward-looking project in our own backyard.
Connecting Chicago More Efficiently
Chicago has long been one of the nation’s major rail centers, but travelers between downtown and O’Hare currently have limited options for a fast, direct connection. The O’Hare Flyer is being developed to address that gap with a dedicated express service designed around speed, reliability, and a modern passenger experience.
The proposed system would use battery-electric trains and a combination of existing rail corridors owned by CSX, Canadian National and Union Pacific. According to the O’Hare Flyer team, this project is targeting a launch within the next five years and is being developed as a private endeavor.
MacKay’s Role
MacKay Transport Market Sector Lead, Luis Montgomery, PE, is a member of the O’Hare Flyer advisory team and leader of the civil engineering team, bringing his transportation experience and perspective to the project.
Our involvement reflects MacKay’s broader commitment to helping communities plan, design, and deliver transportation infrastructure that supports economic development and improves how people move through their communities.
Projects of this scale require collaboration across disciplines, organizations, and stakeholders. O’Hare Flyer brings together expertise in transportation, rail, engineering, planning, design, finance, and other areas to develop a new approach to airport connectivity in Chicago.
Looking Ahead
The O’Hare Flyer is currently in the development and planning phase, with the project team working with railroad partners, public officials, business and community stakeholders as it advances toward implementation.
MacKay is proud to contribute to this effort and to be part of a team exploring what the next generation of transportation could look like for Chicago.
Learn more about the O’Hare Flyer at www.ohareflyer.com.
Project information reflects plans announced by the O’Hare Flyer team as of September 2026.
