South Suburban Airport (Chicago, Rockford, Joliet: houses, construction, school)

[Chuckity]

As a native south sider, I have never met a single soul who was for the proposed South Surburban Airport - unless they were a politician.

I've also never understood why there was never a bigger push from the Indiana side to utilize the Gary Airport - it's already in place, can most likely be enlarged at a much cheaper cost than Peotone and there's already rail and road in place.

What are your feelings on the proposed Peotone airport? Yay or nay?

And anyone care to school me on why Gary & Indiana state has never pushed the issue harder?

[cubssoxfan]

It all boils down to what the major airlines are willing to contribute their money to. They would much rather expand an airport they have infrastructure in like O'Hare or Midway. Now Midway won't expand because it would mean relocating loyal city serfs instead of suburban "Hun". The "Hun" don't vote the King er, I mean Mayor, into office.
If a major airline decides they need a big presence and they have big money to spend, then it will get built soon. If not, it will not. I hope they don't make the mistake they did outside St. Louis where IL built small starter airport and no airlines came to give it business.
They have tried Gary, but no major airline wants to duplicat operations there. Too expensive and poor public transit into Chicago. Same problem with Rockford. It's a shame they do not provide incentive to use these 2 airports more and build high speed rail between Rockford, O'Hare and Downtown and Gary & Downtown. The link from Gary could tie into the exisiting Amtrak line.

[Chicagoland60426]

The South Suburbs don't really need an airport. Thats what Midway Airport on the Southwest side of Chicago is for.

[Mamama Mia]

With the huge population boom in NW Indiana, Joliet, Lockport, Frankfort, Monee, etc. It would be wonderful to have a south suburban airport. Midway is in such a congested area, traffic-wise that most people I know who live in these areas and are not flying Southwest just go to O'Hare. Daley would probably annex a Peotone to the city....
Jesse Jr. is a huge supporter, by the way.

[cubssoxfan]

Mama, you touched on another aspect keeping 3rd airport from really moving forward-politics. Mayor Daley has done a good job of securing federal funds for expanding O'Hare and selling against 3rd airport. Too expensive, too far from Chicago, no major airlines interested.....
The economic benefits would be HUGE for the south suburbs. A day may come when airline freight traffic pushes the 3rd airport forward. So many new distribution warehouses in S and SW burbs. One facet of 3rd airport would be extension of I-355 to I-57 and possibly to I-65 in Indiana. They should build that NOW without waiting for 3rd airport.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

Mama, you touched on another aspect keeping 3rd airport from really moving forward-politics. Mayor Daley has done a good job of securing federal funds for expanding O'Hare and selling against 3rd airport. Too expensive, too far from Chicago, no major airlines interested.....
The economic benefits would be HUGE for the south suburbs. A day may come when airline freight traffic pushes the 3rd airport forward. So many new distribution warehouses in S and SW burbs. One facet of 3rd airport would be extension of I-355 to I-57 and possibly to I-65 in Indiana. They should build that NOW without waiting for 3rd airport.

Agreed. There needs to be econmic stimulus in the southern suburbs.
There is huge oppostion to the airport in Monee, University Park and Peotone where they have already bought up acres of property and have torn down homes. The inter-modal facility in Crete also leads me to believe that the airport will be a reality sooner, rather than later.

[Opkl]

I hope they do build the new airport. Lynwood (5 miles to the north) is already thinking about a casino, dinner theather, and a shopping center. Their is also going to be a new Metra service called the "STARline" with will conect Waukegan and Dyer,IN. and with the finish construction of I-94, IL-394, I-294 and I-80 junction, that will help on transportation to the airport.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by Opkl

I hope they do build the new airport. Lynwood (5 miles to the north) is already thinking about a casino, dinner theather, and a shopping center. Their is also going to be a new Metra service called the "STARline" with will conect Waukegan and Dyer,IN. and with the finish construction of I-94, IL-394, I-294 and I-80 junction, that will help on transportation to the airport.

Agreed. I believe the construction of increased lanes, accessibility, etc. on the above mentioned highways were forward thinking and planning on the eventuality of a 3rd airport.

[GreatLakesDrifter]

There is a also a few distribution centers down that way, as well as the intermodal facility in Crete, so I imagine the peotone airport would be more for freight and GA than commercial passenger service. It could also be an ideal location for fedex, ups or an operation like that... It could take some of the pressure off of O'Hare (which has substantial cargo traffic).

This might get a jumpstart in funding if the feds go ahead with the infrastructure investment portion of the economic stimulus thats being talked about, although the airport's out of the way location and long shot benefit prospects could put it in the "pork barrell" category so many people have complained about.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by GreatLakesDrifter

There is a also a few distribution centers down that way, as well as the intermodal facility in Crete, so I imagine the peotone airport would be more for freight and GA than commercial passenger service. It could also be an ideal location for fedex, ups or an operation like that... It could take some of the pressure off of O'Hare (which has substantial cargo traffic).

This might get a jumpstart in funding if the feds go ahead with the infrastructure investment portion of the economic stimulus thats being talked about, although the airport's out of the way location and long shot benefit prospects could put it in the "pork barrell" category so many people have complained about.

I agree.