My apologies to anyone who read my previous post regarding future air service at the Gary/Chicago International airport.I have several reactions about the miscommunication, or whatever it was, regarding the big announcement at the Gary/Chicago International Airport, scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday Sept. 28.

I’m appalled that I played a part in passing along what turned out to be bad information, even though it originated from several news sources. But as someone who has followed the “third airport” saga for decades, I’m saddened by the outcome.

It was reported Tuesday morning that an airline—Allegiant Air—was planning to make a huge announcement at the Gary/Chicago Airport this morning at 10 a.m. The information, which was reported in several newspapers; The Times, Gary-Post Tribune, and Chicago Sun Times apparently originated from a marketing firm—Diversified Marketing Strategies of Crown Point, which announced coming air service to Gary. Prior news indicated only that a major announcement by an unnamed airline was planning to hold a news conference.

Tuesday evening, a spokesperson from Allegiant Air stated that no such announcement would be made and there would be no news conference.

Apparently talks had been held with the carrier regarding service at Gary, but no decisions were finalized. The Gary/Chicago Airport has been in a holding pattern due to its proximity to the Canadian National Railway tracks. There are plans to move the tracks and complete a runway project that would make the airport more attractive to large carriers, but progress has been slow.

If the south suburbs really cared about jobs for the unemployed or air service for the southern portion of the region, rather than simply controlling pay-to-play contracts, they too would get behind the effort to establish air service at an airport that is already operational and capable rather than beating the dead horse that is the Peotone airport. 

According to a press release issued Monday by U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar’s office, he, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, and seven other members of the Indiana Congressional delegation, including Sen. Dan Coats, and Reps. Joe Donnelly, Todd Rokita, Dan Burton, Mike Pence, Andrea Carson and Todd Young, have asked three major railroad companies to complete a series of agreements with the Gary/Chicago International Airport so the runway expansion project an meet a construction deadline.

“It is our understanding that the Federal Aviation Administration requires that the airport complete its runway extension project by 2013, and we emphasize the importance of promptly finalizing the necessary agreements with the airport. We realize that if the airport fails to meet that deadline, the nearly $160 million which has been committed to this project by the federal government, the State of Indiana, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, as well as various local governments, would be in jeopardy,” congressional delegation members said in letters to the Presidents of CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Corp., and the Canadian National Railway Company.

A final memorandum of understanding signed by all parties last May related to track relocation.

The letter added that the project remains critical to economic development in Northwest Indiana. “We strongly support the new and exciting economic and job growth opportunities the runway extension project will ultimately bring to the Northwest Indiana region.”

An editorial in The Times today called for a cooperative effort by the entire region to come to Gary’s aid. I agree wholeheartedly. Not only does the region include the State of Indiana, and City of Chicago, but it also includes the south suburbs of Illinois. If the south suburbs really cared about jobs for the unemployed or air service for the southern portion of the region, they too would get behind the effort to establish air service at an airport that is already operational rather than beating the dead horse that is the Peotone Airport.