Tue, Mar 31, 2009
Critics Declare Victory Against Controversial Project
Chicago aviation officials announced Monday no funds will be
going towards the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) from the $12
million in federal stimulus money sent to O'Hare to help improve
existing infrastructure.
Officials including Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) announced more
than $5 million will be used to replace runway pavement and almost
$7 million will be used to widen a taxiway... but absolutely no
monies will be awarded to the controversial OMP project.
"This is important, this means people are finally listening to
what we have been saying for years. The current O'Hare expansion
plan is not the answer and should be re-examined before another
cent of taxpayer funds are wasted," said Bensenville Village
President John Geils. "We were in Washington, DC six weeks ago
explaining the situation to lawmakers and it looks like they were
listening. Today is a victory for the residents of Bensenville and
everyone who knows the current airport expansion plan needs to be
re-worked to be functional."
Critics of the OMP say the "O'Hare mega-project is behind
schedule, underfunded and the meter is running." They also question
the logic of expanding the busy airport at a time when airlines are
cutting fleets and routes in the slumping economy.
"The day the federal government takes a harder look at the
O'Hare expansion plan is the day the plan will be re-worked. The
need for a 3rd airport as part of a master Chicago aviation
strategy is obvious to anyone who looks at the passenger traffic
patterns," continued Geils. "When we met with senators and
congressman and their staff they could not believe the OMP was
still considered a viable plan and as we see, they can influence
what projects merit federal funding and what projects do not. The
current O'Hare expansion plan does not."
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