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After stinging letter from legislators, Pritzker administration finally attends meeting on south suburban airport

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Illinois

* Ted Slowik…

South suburban economic development boosters met Thursday with state officials for the first time in three years to discuss the proposed South Suburban Airport near Peotone, an official said Friday.

State lawmakers who represent the region likely prompted the meeting by sending a letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, said Rick Bryant, an aide to U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Matteson. […]

The congressional aide said he informed state officials that Amazon and others are using the Rockford airport as a cargo hub but eyeing an airport in Gary, Indiana, because it is closer to Chicago-area distribution centers, Bryant said. […]

Gary’s airport is landlocked and cannot expand beyond a single runway, Bryant said. Amazon and others would prefer a site with multiple runways that is not already congested with commercial air traffic, he said.

“In the long term we have a better site,” Bryant said. “In the short term Gary has the upper hand.”

* That letter was quite something…

As representatives of the Chicago Southland, we are disappointed by your Administration’s steadfast opposition to a proposed South Suburban Airport, which is potentially one of the largest commercial developments to locate in Illinois in decades.

We know this because your Administration:

1) Hired consultants to find alternative uses for the selected airport site;
2) Eliminated Phase I Engineering for a proposed airport interchange from IDOT’s five-year plan (rendering a budgeted $162 million line-item for constructing that interchange essentially meaningless);
3) Refused meeting with private developers interested in financing the project;
4) Refused meeting with regional leadership to discuss next steps;
5) Sat idly as UPS expanded its Rockford air cargo hub across the state line to Gary Airport; and
6) Sat idly as Amazon built new air cargo hubs in many Midwestern states - but not Illinois.

For thirty-five years, Illinois governor after Illinois governor, FAA administrator after FAA administrator, aviation/economic impact study after aviation/economic impact study have concluded that Metro Chicago needs a third major airport to handle future capacity demands. Studies also conclude the ideal location for that airport is the FAA-approved site near Monee.

The Southland is blessed with the nation’s busiest network of road and rail infrastructure. A new airport would be essential to an innovative, world-class, multi-modal, mega e-commerce cluster. As longtime Southland residents, we’ve witnessed our region overlooked. We will no longer stand idly by for any Governor who does not make improving the economic quality of life in our region a top priority.

Thus, we write to respectfully ask your Administration to immediately:

1) Begin Phase I Engineering on the proposed airport interchange on I-57 at mile marker 332;
2) Complete land acquisition with funds already appropriated by the General Assembly;
3) Refresh the Environment Impact Study;
4) Complete the final airport “master plan” and seek a Record of Decision from the FAA.

Finally, there is great private-sector interest in the airport, thus, we urge the State to draft a master development agreement and solicit bids from private companies willing to finance, construct, maintain and operate the airport on State-owned land.

The Southland, with our extraordinary transportation assets, has the potential to be a model 21st Century e-commerce hub that could be the envy of the nation. But that will only happen if the State defines its role and demonstrates its commitment to lead a public-private partnership.

We thank you for your time and remain eager to work with your Administration on this ambitious, overdue, innovative investment in Illinois’ near- and long-term future.

The letter was signed by Sen. Michael Hastings and Reps. Will Davis and Kelly Burke.

Gov. Pritzker has focused quite a lot of attention on the Rockford airport. And south suburban types are upset at his lack of focus on their region on numerous other issues as well, including things like the Illiana Expressway and water issues within the inner ring suburbs like Dixmoor.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 11:17 am

Comments

Call me crazy, but didn’t a significant portion of Will and Kankakee counties spend a metric boatload of time, talent, and treasure FIGHTING AGAINST the Illiana Expressway and any South Suburban Airport plans for Peotone?

Comment by Leap Day William Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 11:26 am
Perhaps JB is trying to coordinate the timing with all the casino and dope store openings. Thus the delays.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 11:27 am
Problem is south Cook county wants this. Will and Kankakee counties don’t want it. I think you need their buy in. Also, the Illiana wasn’t needed but a good 4 lane road from I55 to I57 is needed. But again landowners don’t want it.

Comment by Publius Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 11:41 am
== Gary’s airport is landlocked and cannot expand beyond a single runway, Bryant said. Amazon and others would prefer a site with multiple runways that is not already congested with commercial air traffic, he said. ==

I don’t doubt that they would prefer that. The question is: are they willing to help pay for the construction or at least sign a contract promising to pay usage fees so someone else can finance construction? That kind of upfront financial commitment is what’s missing, not a lack of commitment from the state.

Comment by Roman Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 12:09 pm
I see a lovely little airport already in Kankakee, less than a mile from an I57 entrance. Expanding it would be far quicker and more cost effective. But since that doesn’t solve the politics, by all means let us spend $10B on a white elephant.

Comment by Jibba Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 12:09 pm
Jeez, how many times does this project have to be killed before it stays killed? Nobody wants it beyond some people in the south suburbs, and even they don’t seem to want to pay for it. Let it go.

Comment by Benjamin Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 12:14 pm
==I see a lovely little airport already in Kankakee, less than a mile from an I57 entrance. Expanding it would be far quicker and more cost effective.==

But isn’t the Kankakee airport landlocked by 57 and the Iroquois River, or is there enough room for expansion into an O’Hare or Midway-esque facility?

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 12:27 pm
If it wasn’t used for the Midewin Nature preserve I think the abandoned sites of the old Joliet Army base–adjacent to all the intermodal facilities–could make a great alternate site for a south suburban airport.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 12:29 pm
===Also, the Illiana wasn’t needed but a good 4 lane road from I55 to I57 is needed. But again landowners don’t want it.===

That won’t change until the Frank Borman Memorial Parking Lot regularly backs up eastbound Illinois I-80 all the way back to Calumet Expressway / Dixie Highway. Then, without endorsing the original route / financing, etc., something like the Illiana will be built.

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 1:00 pm
Look next door - what good has the booming warehouse market in the Joliet done for ordinary people and Joliet-area local governments? Who is making all the money and gaining all the wealth there? The Illiana Expressway needs to run from I-80 west of Joliet to I-80 in Portage, IN. Without that, and serious attempts to capture money for Illinois, would a south suburban airport just be another giveaway to plutocrats and plutocratic corporations?

Comment by Ares Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 1:02 pm
do they have the roadway infrastructure planned for the airport? I thought they did not want some of that. yes, Gary only has one runway, but it is there now. does not mean traffic could be diverted elsewhere if a new airport comes up. the problem with the airport is that much of the push for it focused on passenger flights initially. there has to be a full look at how it could function for cargo. that means lots of infrastructure support including cargo facilities. but the roads mean lots. get on that Southland.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 1:13 pm
Let me know when any of the cargo or passenger airlines/carriers is willing to pay for any part of the airport or all the improvements. For decades the answer has remained the same “Nope, not interested.” If Amazon wants an airport for its captive air fleet, they can afford to build it themselves. This is another taxpayer-funded boondoggle which has wasted millions already. Gary is “landlocked” only because nobody wants to push eminent domain as the answer for expansion.

Comment by thisjustinagain Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 2:07 pm
==== Gary is “landlocked” only because nobody wants to push eminent domain as the answer for expansion.====
First I don’t necessarily think Gary is totally landlocked. It looks like they could go across Airport Road but maybe environmental problems. I don’t think eminent domain is a problem either in a city like Gary. But don’t forget it’s the Chicago-Gary Airport. Who knows what approvals from Chicago they would need.

Comment by Been There Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 2:24 pm
Amazon is building a warehouse south of Rockford airport and revamping a old Bonton warehouse in Rockford. With the air hub and Beloit Wisconsin Amazon warehouse that makes 4 Amazon locations in the Rockford area. I don’t think that Amazon is pulling out anytime soon.

Comment by sladay Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 2:32 pm
The south suburban airport has always been one of the more obvious wastes of money that we’ve ever seen proposed

Comment by Nick Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 2:54 pm
It’s supposed to be a Public-Private Partnership, but it seems like all the action has been on the public side, including massive land acquisition by the state and placeholders in the capital bill for expressway access. I’m not sure what else Pritzker can do other than being a more vocal cheerleader for the project. At some point, the private part of the partnership needs to kick in.

Comment by TNR Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:23 pm
what a joke, the State of Illinois has three airports: O’Hare, Midway , and Lambert International in STL. all this other stuff is a distraction with no market participation.

Comment by Merica Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:38 pm
This isn’t just about an airport IMHO. It’s how the Governor deals (or doesn’t) with members of his own party. If he engaged them (and other rank and file) in a meaningful way and made them feel heard, I doubt they would have penned such a strongly worded letter. Choosing to remain in his ivory tower could come back to haunt him.

Comment by Poor Miller Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 3:54 pm
An airport in the Peotone area was supposed to be the “3rd airport” IDOT has long range planning docs from the late sixties showing reliever airfield in that area as time went on. If the Big three don’t want or like it so be it. Let it be a cargo airfield with some other commercial/consumer flights too. Rich Daly got United and American riled uo in the 1990s saying they would not locate there and expanded at Ohare for them, then he gave away the farm to Southwest at Midway. Might be time for this after 30 plus years of planning and spending.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 4:10 pm
Gary Airport is ringed with Superfund sites, an expressway, and a railroad on the west, a commuter railroad and a river on the south, and more Superfund sites, Class I freight railroads, power lines, pipelines, and infrastructure on the north and northeast. There’s not much farther it can go.

Comment by Ares Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 4:41 pm
Also, JB’s predecessor advertised a Request for Information (RFI) to gauge interest, but there appeared to be little interest. The only way a hedge fund, LBO, or investor group will “take the bait” on developing a third airport is if they can make a huge return, and who, then, will be shortchanged? The People of Illinois.

Comment by Ares Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 4:45 pm
===It’s how the Governor deals (or doesn’t) with members of his own party.===

Personally, I see it as the gov doing the right thing at the expense of the interests of some members of his own party. There is always room for that kind of leadership.

Comment by Jibba Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 7:31 pm
I see a potential election issue to exploit. Not going to say who, but you know if one doesn’t look at Peotone then the others should. Just sayin’

Comment by Levois J Monday, Nov 22, 21 @ 7:37 pm
I think there is a lot to be learned from the commitment years ago in Virginia and Colorado new airport projects

Both decisions were visionary and were initially called White elephants

Today they are in the top ten used airports in the country
and the economic activity around and because of then
is extraordinary

Build them and they will come certainly has worked there

Comment by Sam Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 6:57 am
Should read top 25 airports Denver 4 Dulles 25

Comment by Sam Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 7:02 am