Illinois adds weight to Chicago south suburban airport bid

THE Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has presented new data to the Federal Aviation Administration to support the bid to build a proposed Chicago south suburban airport, reports the Chicago Sun Times.

Economic forecast data shows population growth in the south suburbs and indicates a consistent and continued demand for passenger, air cargo and general aviation activity, according to an IDOT release.

The state continues to work on plans for a south suburban airport near Peotone and the FAA is in the early stages of an environmental analysis of the proposed airport, which will require federal funding.

Forecasts show the airport has the potential to serve a portion of the air cargo demand in the south suburbs and how air cargo is improving as a business and how consumer demand for more goods and services is rising, the release said.

The Chicago area has more freight tonnage passing through it than any other point in the United States and new multi-national firms continue to establish new businesses and business expansion in the south suburbs, according to the Illinois statement.

"These new numbers strengthen our application because they show strong future demand," IDOT director of aeronautics Susan Shea. "The SSA [south suburban airport] team is currently working on studies and the coordination with the FAA [US Federal Aviation Commission] to determine the scope of the master plan and the airport layout plan."

IDOT anticipates the next report will be the Wetland Determination Study, expected to be in by mid-July.
(Source:www.schednet.com)