Larry Walsh op-ed
When Walsh claims the choice is between a plan developed by IDOT and one endorsed by the Abraham Lincoln Airport Commission, I have to ask, has he looked at the two plans. They are nearly identical; both were clearly developed by IDOT.
The only statement I agree with was when Walsh said, “It is sad that this political drama continues to play out at the expense of Eastern Will County residents.” Amen to that!
Walsh’s sympathy for the public is touching, but has little behind it. Before Walsh left the State Senate and became Will County Executive, he said he was against the airport. What happened to that?
I understand why he is afraid that if ALNAC gets its way it would be devastating to eastern Will County.Why doesn't he convey that message to the governor?
And why doesn't Walsh quit playing politics, and go back to his following his heart. Perhaps his message should be what he really believes, that eastern Will County does not need another airport.
State's layout plan best option for third airport
by Lawrence M. Walsh
Gov. Blagojevich and
the Illinois Department of Transportation must choose an airport layout plan to
endorse and forward to the Federal Aviation Administration so that a final
decision can be made on how an airport in Eastern Will County will look and operate,
both now and in the future.
Interestingly, the choice is between a plan developed by IDOT and a
plan endorsed by the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission.
The IDOT plan was completed after spending millions in federal aviation
funds with consideration of the Tier I Environmental Impact Study already approved
by the FAA.
The ALNAC plan was developed and paid for by two airport developers
that want to design, build and, perhaps, operate the airport.
These two developers previously had been paid consultants for Elk Grove
Village and Bensenville, whose primary agenda is to thwart O'Hare expansion.
Their other agenda is to control the airport proposed for Eastern Will
County.
It is sad that this political drama continues to play out at the
expense of Eastern Will County residents.
It is sad that U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and ALNAC have refused every
opportunity to engage in meaningful negotiations, even when they were
encouraged to do so by major Illinois leaders such as Senate President Emil
Jones and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
They have misrepresented every facet of this project in their quest for
total control of this airport, which is not within either their political or
geographical jurisdiction.
They continue this pattern, saying that "the governor again
endorsed ALNAC, submitting its layout plan to the Federal Aviation
Administration."
If that were the case, we would not be having this dialogue.
Now it is time for the state to formally endorse an airport layout plan
given its responsibility as the current sponsor of the proposed airport.
The choice is simple. The governor should immediately instruct IDOT to
specify its own plan as the preferred alternative.
We ask him to go a step further and submit only the IDOT plan so that
the FAA can move toward a final record of decision on this airport.
The concepts of airport layout plans are complicated but some issues
are easy.
First, the revised ALNAC plan would require the state to purchase 7,885
acres as opposed to IDOT's plans to acquire 5,225 acres.
The ALNAC plan would displace 215 residences as opposed to 82 under the
IDOT plan.
It may not mean much to ALNAC supporters since these people aren't
their neighbors or even their constituents, but we take this issue seriously.
The ALNAC plan eliminates a fourth future runway, significantly
impairing the ultimate success of the airport. ALNAC also proposes flight
departures and arrivals to fly directly over Beecher and Peotone, again of no
consequence to them but a major issue for us.
We believe that this airport must have significant private
participation to make it a reality.
However, ALNAC wants us to believe there are only two qualified airport
developers that will participate in the construction and operation of this
airport; we know that there are at least 20 developers so qualified.
If an airport authority is enacted with the legislative authority to
design, build and operate an airport, we are confident that private airport
developers will partner with the authority after an open and transparent
procurement process.
ALNAC and Congressman Jackson proclaim they want this airport built but
their actions belie them.
When IDOT unveiled its airport layout plan in September, ALNAC should
have endorsed it and moved it forward to the FAA.
Instead, ALNAC revised its original submission to move the location of
its terminal. Now, ALNAC proposes to throw the Tier I Environmental Impact
study out the window and delay the project many years.
We in Will County believe the governor when he said: "Building a
new airport means thousands of new jobs for the South Suburbs and Will County,
and we're doing everything we can to make that happen."
If he really wants to do "everything," he can start by
endorsing the IDOT plan as the preferred alternative, drop the ALNAC plan and
let the FAA proceed to a final record of decision.
Lawrence M. Walsh is Will County executive.
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