Plans for O'Hare express rail service from downtown moving forward, Emanuel says

CHICAGO (WLS) -- If all goes according to plan, there will be an easier way to get to O'Hare Airport from downtown.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Sunday that he is moving forward with the idea of an express rail service. Next month the city will select an engineering team to analyze the project.

The goal is to begin negotiations sometime this year and have a contract by 2017.

The city has tapped engineering and design firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, which has expertise in rail projects in Stockholm, London and Norway.

Over the next 10 months the firm will identify potential routes and the best location of the O'Hhare and downtown stations, as well as determine a cost for the project.