July 26--Gov. Pat Quinn signed a measure into law Thursday aimed at bringing the long-stalled south suburban airport a step closer to reality.
The legislation is intended to resolve battles over which local government would be in charge of the airport by giving the Illinois Department of Transportation the power to enter into public-private contracts for the development, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of a third regional airport near Peotone in Will County.
Hurdles remain, however. The state has bought only about half of the land needed to build the airport. The master plan is still under review by the Federal Aviation Administration, a process that could take several months. Aides to the governor say the state has set aside $71 million in construction funds to finish buying land and added that Quinn has asked the federal government to expedite the review process.
Even if the FAA approves, it's unclear how much activity would take place at a Peotone airport. Major airlines have long taken a stand against the airport, saying it could hurt the O'Hare International Airport expansion project. Quinn argues that a third airport is needed not just for passenger travel but for transporting cargo.
State, local and federal authorities have spent an estimated $100 million on the airport project, which has been delayed for decades as political factions fought over who would have control of the site. A group backed by former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was at odds with Will County and the towns that would border the airport.
After Jackson's political downfall last year, lawmakers worked to craft a deal that would give control of the airport to an outside party: the state. The Peotone measure was included in a broad development bill passed during the final days of the spring session that will allow McCormick Place to borrow money and use cash from special tax increment financing districts to pay for the construction of a new hotel and basketball arena for DePaul University. The bill also will allow Rosemont to use $5 million it currently gets to promote convention business to finance bonds to redo its convention center.
Quinn would not say what impact the departure of Jackson from the political stage had on brokering a governance deal, saying it was an effort by many people over many years.
"Hard things don't always come easy. You have to work at it and work at it, and we did," Quinn said.
The Quinn administration refused to say how much more state money will be needed before the airport is operational, but it indicated the goal is to enter into partnerships with private companies that would limit the need for public investment.
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