Following the passage of a bill in the Illinois General Assembly paving the way for public and private funding to develop an airport in Chicago’s south suburbs, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and other government officials gathered Monday to outline their goals for the potential project.
Environmental groups and farmers alike have raised concerns about the potential impact of operating a cargo airport and warehouses near Peotone to allow the Will County area to cash in on the increased demand of fast shipping from companies such as Amazon.
During a news conference at the East Hazel Crest clerk’s office, Kelly and members of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association stressed their support for building “the greenest airport in North America” as the Illinois Department of Transportation prepares to seek interest from potential developers.
“It will be the greatest job generator in the Southland since the steel industry began downsizing decades ago,” said Kelly, a Democrat representing Illinois’ Second Congressional District. “The South Suburban Airport will surely be the airport of the future, and it’s almost here.”
Talks of developing a third Illinois airport in the south suburbs have been ongoing for 30 years, Kelly said. Many have expressed skepticism the plan could move forward with doubts cast over the project’s economic benefits outweighing environmental harms.
But the passage of two bills over the past two legislative sessions have renewed the hopes of government officials who see the project as a generator of opportunity for those living in the often struggling south suburbs. Kelly said she has provided multiple briefings to interested developers who are “eagerly waiting to get started.”
State Rep. Will Davis, a Democrat from Harvey, said he is excited about the latest bill, not yet signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, that would require IDOT to begin accepting bids for developing Bult Field. That small general aviation airport would be expanded along with Interstate 57 and Illinois Route 50 receiving new interchanges.
Bult Field
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune Bult Field near Monee, a possible site for the South Suburban Airport. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
“When we talk about the viability of the Southland, we need something that sparks growth and opportunity in all of our communities,” Davis said. “You can’t tell me that an airport, and we have examples of it already, has not shown itself to be important to grow opportunities in that particular region … So why shouldn’t the Southland have the opportunity to have this conversation and engage in this dialogue?”
The ambitions for the airport are great, as expressed in a letter the mayors and managers association sent to IDOT Secretary Omer Osman last month. With IDOT expected to release its drafted Request for Qualifications for interested developers within the next few weeks, the association is asking the state agency commit to hiring locally, approaching carbon neutrality and assisting with the process of securing public financing.
“Illinois likes to boast that it is the first in a lot of things,” Davis said. “Wouldn’t it be great if we were the first state to develop and build this type of airport, to continue along the governor’s mantra of turning Illinois into a carbon free state?”
Hopes of developing a green airport require the use of renewable energy sources, microgrids, electric vehicles and sustainable aviation fuels, the association stated.
Reggie Greenwood, who directs the Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator at Governors State University, said departments like his are working to spearhead new approaches to international flight connections as well as plane takeoffs and landings that could be put into practice at the South Suburban Airport.
“All this new technology we’re talking about is here,” Greenwood said. “And this gives us the chance, Illinois a chance, to continue to build this kind of clean tech … building upon the unique capacity of our state.”
Following the release of IDOT’s Request for Qualification, the agency will create a shortlist of potential developers and pay them for detailed proposals, which could take up to a year, Kelly’s office said. Her office also said the Environmental Protection Agency has reviewed and cleared the site of potential environmental issues.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
