CHICAGO, February 1, 2016 -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City of Chicago,
U.S. Senators Durbin and Kirk, representatives from United and American
Airlines, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) yesterday announced
a nearly $1.3 billion infrastructure plan for O'Hare International Airport
that will create thousands of jobs over the life of the project.
This historic agreement includes a new runway (Runway 9C/27C), deicing pads
and other critical airfield projects, paving the way for further airport
improvements that will allow O'Hare to increase the number of gates,
modernize the terminals and secure Chicago's future as one of the most
important aviation hubs in the world. The thousands of travelers who depend
on O'Hare each day will see improved on-time performance and enhanced
customer experience due to the increased capacity at the airport and the new
projects the city will be able to pursue as a result of the landmark deal.
Runway 9C/27C, scheduled to be commissioned in 2020, will be used for
arriving and departing aircraft. The 11,245-foot-long, 200-foot-wide runway
will be the second largest runway at O'Hare. This runway will balance the
capacity of the north airfield with that of the south airfield, providing
increased flexibility for east and west flow operations, as well as
balancing noise exposure among communities east and west of O'Hare. The city
also plans to ensure that sound insulation of all eligible homes and schools
will commence and be completed before the runway opens. The cost of
construction for Runway 9C/27C is $648.5 million.
O'Hare's airfield also will receive a centralized deicing facility to
increase the efficiency of the current deicing operations at individual
gates, improve on-time performance and the passenger experience. This
project will improve gate utilization and terminal capacity, eliminate
secondary deicing for departing planes, and enhance runway safety while
improving airfield operations. In addition, a new crossfield Taxiway system
will be constructed to connect the north and south airfields which will
decrease taxi time for planes arriving at O'Hare and improve the customer
experience. The construction plan also calls for the relocation of fuel
supply lines and airline support facilities, as well as perimeter Taxiways A
and B.
"Building a strong future for Chicago depends on building a strong future
for O'Hare," Mayor Emanuel said. "This historic agreement enhances O'Hare's
role as the economic engine of Chicago and the region. The capital plan will
improve the passenger experience at O'Hare, while creating thousands of
good-paying jobs for Chicagoans. I want to thank everyone involved for their
work in securing O'Hare and Chicago's economic future by getting this deal
done."
"If we are going to be a leader in the world economy, we need the
infrastructure to support it," U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said. "The
agreement announced today will help ensure that O'Hare will remain not only
one of the country's busiest airports, but also one of the best. These
improvements will lead to a safer, more efficient airport while solidifying
O'Hare's status as an economic engine for the region and a world class air
hub."
"O'Hare is an economic engine for Illinois, the Midwest, and the entire
nation," said Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). "This investment and an updated
timeline will complete the O'Hare Modernization Plan, reducing travel delays
and increasing our competitiveness in a 21st century economy."
"This project will further modernize O'Hare's airfield and significantly
increase safety and efficiency; and give air traffic the most flexibility
for routing aircraft," said Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner
Ginger S. Evans. "Chicago will now have a 21st Century airfield. I want to
thank the FAA and our airline partners for making this project of national
significance a reality. I also want to acknowledge the O'Hare Noise
Compatibility Commission and Suburban O'Hare Commission for their hard work
to maximize the benefits of our proposed operational changes for residents
affected by noise."
"As Chicago's hometown airline, we have long been committed to ensuring that
O'Hare remains a leading global hub," said Gavin Molloy, vice president of
Corporate Real Estate for United Airlines. "This agreement will help
strengthen the airport by improving reliability and efficiency on the
airfield while enhancing the overall travel experience for our customers. We
thank Mayor Emanuel, Commissioner Evans and Administrator Huerta for their
ongoing support, and we look forward to continuing to work together to build
a more vibrant O'Hare."
"I'd like to thank Mayor Emanuel, Commissioner Evans, Sen. Durbin,
Administrator Huerta and all of the parties involved who came together to
reach this important agreement to make the airfield work more efficiently
and move toward our shared vision of a world-class airport," said Michael
Minerva, vice president - Government and Airport Affairs for American
Airlines. "These airfield improvements will benefit our customers, our 9,000
Chicago-based employees and the Chicago community for years to come. We look
forward to continuing to partner with the City and other key stakeholders in
enhancing the customer experience at O'Hare even further in the future."
"This new runway is one of the final steps in realizing a fully modernized
and efficient O'Hare Airport," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "It is
an investment in enhanced safety, both in the air and on the ground, and in
a better travel experience for passengers in Chicago and across the nation."
The construction of Runway 9C/27C and the additional airfield projects will
have a major economic impact on Chicago, and ensuring significant local
workforce participation will be a priority. Over the next few years, this
agreement will create over 5,000 construction and professional services
jobs, which will mean more than 1,000 each year for the duration of the
effort -- and an opportunity to turn hundreds of entry-level jobs into
opportunities for our underserved communities. Towards that end, the City
will expand on the successful community hiring efforts used for the CTA's
Red Line South project by: working with partners in the City Council and in
the federal government to establish new contracting rules to promote these
opportunities; organizing outreach through community partners to notify
residents about the application process; working with organized labor and
our workforce partners to open hiring offices in underserved communities;
and working with the City Treasurer to create a new program to help small
minority and women-owned firms get financing to participate in these
projects. More information about these projects and contracting goals will
be a key topic of discussion at the Chicago Department of Aviation's
Contractor Open House/Industry Day this Friday, February 5, 2015 at the UIC
Forum.
"We are thrilled about this important opportunity to bring additional
economic development to Chicago's neighborhoods," said Shari Runner,
President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. "It is more important than
ever before to ensure that the jobs created from modernizing O'Hare Airport
help lift up our underserved communities."
With the completion of the six parallel-runway system, the city, Illinois'
congressional delegation and its airport partners will continue to focus on
enhancing the customer experience, increasing amenities for passengers and
improving on-time performance at O'Hare. Mayor Emanuel is focused on a
strategic vision to bring O'Hare International Airport in to the 21st
Century by increasing the number of gates, modernizing and expanding
existing terminal space, building a new hotel on the airfield, creating a
mode of western access to O'Hare and improving transportation options to and
from the airport.
Since Mayor Emanuel took office, the CDA has started or completed several
major improvements at O'Hare that are benefiting travelers and generating
additional jobs and revenue for Chicago. A $26 million transformation of
International Terminal 5 into a world-class dining and retail destination
was completed in 2014 and O'Hare became the first U.S. airport to launch the
award-winning Automated Passport Control system. Construction is underway on
a $782 million intermodal development project that will consolidate rental
car operations, create new public parking and extend the airport's people
mover system. Also underway is a critical cargo development project on the
northeast side of O'Hare that will improve airport infrastructure, enhance
competitiveness, and create thousands of construction and permanent jobs.
The Mayor also announced that negotiations have begun for an airport use and
lease agreement with airlines operating at O'Hare that contemplates new air
service. This agreement will be finalized in 2018.
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