Posts Tagged: O’Hare expansion

FAA shutdown could ground O’Hare expansion

By Matthew Blake | Jul 27 2011 at 12:24 | Your take

The Federal Aviation Administration’s partial shutdown – where the chief debate is over whether or not the agency should provide subsidies to rural airports – has temporarily stopped airport construction projects country-wide dead in their tracks. The Chicago Tribune’s Jon Hilkevitch had a good piece yesterday on how the federal dispute could delay the already absurdly delayed expansion of O’Hare airport. Funding for a new runway could be halted, along with the dozens of other airport improvement projects across the country that rely on federal funds.

Topics: Beltway Outsider, Federal Aviation Administration
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The Rasputin of transportation plans

By Matthew Blake | Feb 08 2011 at 12:40 | Your take

U.S. Dept. of Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood will meet with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and the CEOs for both American and United airlines tomorrowto discuss Daley’s O’Hare expansion plan. As Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business reports, the airlines recently sued to block a city plan that would issue further bonds for the O’Hare expansion to build new runways. The airlines don’t want the runways until the economy — and their profits — get better. But Daley wants to push forward.

That Daley, in his waning months as mayor, wants to go to Washington, D.C. to save the O’Hare modernization plan should come as no surprise. (more…)

Topics: Beltway Outsider, Dept. of Transportation, Government in My Backyard (GIMBY)
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Stalled on the runway

By Matthew Blake | Nov 22 2010 at 12:58 | Your take

Last week, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation provided Chicago $3.4 million to help build an air traffic control tower as part O’Hare international airport expansion. The project, though, is plagued with insufficient funds and no realistic completion date, reports the Chicago Tribune’s Robert McCoppin. McCoppin focuses on the stalled construction of a western terminal. “The fate of the terminal is unclear,” he writes. “Its uncertain status has some critics questioning whether the project’s promised economic boost justified destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses, as well as increased noise and pollution in the area.”

I think that one problem with the O’Hare expansion project has been the role of federal and state government as enabler to local government. (more…)

Topics: Beltway Outsider, Dept. of Transportation, Government in My Backyard (GIMBY)
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