Durbin Statement Regarding DOT Announcement for O'Hare International Airport

DURBIN STATEMENT REGARDING DOT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement regarding Secretary Mineta's announcement of $300 million Letter of Intent for O'Hare International Airport:

"Secretary Mineta's appearance today to announce a $300 million Letter of Intent for the O'Hare Modernization Program signifies the importance of O'Hare to the rest of the nation. The Administration knows that O'Hare is the epicenter of not only regional aviation travel, but the national and world's passenger aviation system. This $300 million grant will allow the city of Chicago to redesign their runways, which will create jobs, spur economic development and drastically reduce delays.

This fall, I, along with fellow members of the delegation, wrote to Secretary Mineta and the Congressional leadership, asking that they support this $300 million Letter of Intent. Today's announcement is a boon for both the airlines operating out of O'Hare and residents of the Chicago area. A modernized O'Hare will mean an additional 195,000 jobs and $18 billion in annual economic activity in Chicagoland. That is on top of the existing 450,000 jobs and $38 billion in economic activity that O'Hare already creates for the region and the State of Illinois. Moreover, the project is expected to save the airlines approximately $370 million and passengers $380 million each year.

The O'Hare Modernization Program is a safe and long-term solution to aviation delays in this region and across the nation. I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow Members of the Illinois Delegation, the Mayor, the Governor, and the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure that O'Hare modernization progresses quickly and efficiently for the benefit of Illinois residents and the world's air passengers."

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=249265&&