State Legislature Quashes New Airport Plans-For Now

<H1> State Legislature Quashes New Airport Plans-For Now</H1>By Glenn Carter

<B>P</B>lans to build a third airport in the Chicago area have been scrapped temporarily with the adjournment of the Illinois state legislature late last month. But the issue will move again to the front burner when the legislature reconvenes after the November election, despite fierce opposition from major airlines servicing O'Hare and Midway airports.

Airline sources say the main impetus for the proposed airport comes not from need but from a coalition of Republican suburban legislators who foresee an economic boom in the area of suburban Peotone, and communities surrounding O'Hare that are unhappy with aircraft noise (<I>BTN</I>, Dec. 11, 1995). Also at stake is control over the two major airports by the city of Chicago and Democratic mayor Richard Daley.

The bill that failed in the April session has two goals: to construct and operate a new airport at Peotone, and to create a regional airport authority that would take control away from the mayor's office.

Lisa Howard, a spokeswoman for the city's Department of Aviation, said the city "wants things to remain the same-for the city to own and operate the airports."

Airlines serving Chicago's airports concur. "We don't want money taken away from O'Hare and Midway to go to a new airport that's not needed," said American Airlines spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan.

"We have been fighting this plan; our view is it's not needed and not affordable," said United Airlines spokesman Joe Hopkins. "We just went through the exercise of building a new airport at Denver, and we feel that we can make adjustments in schedules so O'Hare can meet the demand for years to come."

Part of the stalled legislation would create a commission to deal with O'Hare's noise problems. "This commission would have been the first step toward the regional authority-that's why it was important that it not be passed," said Fagan. Indeed, both airlines and city officials are concerned the regional entity would take control of the existing city airports in addition to the proposed facility.

And seeking to pre-empt the anti-noise forces, the city has undertaken an ambitious program to soundproof homes in the O'Hare area. This year, 600 homes will be soundproofed, with a total of 3,000 to be done in the next couple of years.

If approved, the new airport would be located in Peotone, about 37 miles from downtown Chicago, southeast of Joliet and north of Kankakee. The airport property alone would be three times the size of O'Hare and larger than Manhattan.

Linda Shem, vice president of client relations for Corporate Travel Consultants in Oak Brook, Ill., believes a third airport here is unnecessary. "I have participated in focus groups on the airports and agreed with my colleagues that Peotone would not be of much value because it's so far out," she said.

While acknowledging that Peotone could work as a hub for connections, Shem said, "It would take a very long time for our people to get there. People like to have an airport that is as convenient as possible. That's why Midway has been so successful."

Shem said she gets few complaints from travelers about Midway or O'Hare; however, a proposed shuttle to car rental offices at O'Hare would be a "huge improvement."

The legislation's sponsor, Sen. Aldo DeAngelis, did not return phone calls.

The airlines, of course, are not happy about a third airport because it is they who would have to pay for it and collect the funds from their passengers.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Transportation is preparing a financial feasibility study for proponents to show airlines why they should sign on as carriers at the new airport.

However, the DOT "has historically been off by between 18 and 40 percent on the high side in predicting air traffic demand," said Fagan. She said one reason for the bill's recent failure was that the DOT study was not yet completed, hinting it might be ready for pro-airport legislators after Election Day.

"From an economic perspective, Peotone does not work," Fagan said. "There would be no possibility of recouping the investment, in large part because the traveling public does not want to go to Peotone."

She said the airlines have invested billions in airports throughout the Midwest, with hubs in Minneapolis, Detroit and St. Louis. Fagan pointed out that Minneapolis recently rejected a proposal for a new airport as well.