Deal, Worked Out by Daley's Operatives and Airlines, Now On the Table

The previously-leaked plan is now officially up for consideration: Mayor "Demolition Dick" Daley and his gang of Meigs-dozers in Chicago may have, with the help of the airlines, actually put together a viable plan for one of Chicago's surviving airports.

The O'Hare plan, unveiled at a City Council meeting yesterday, does indeed commit nearly $3 billion to get started on the big airport's $6.6 billion overall plan.

The initial money would be used, according to Crain's Chicago Business, "for engineering, design, land acquisition and construction of one new runway, relocation of another and extensive work on a third."

Daley said to believers, "The airlines and the city recognize that the O’Hare Modernization Program is necessary for the long-term survival of the airlines and the economic vitality of the Chicago area, and it answers critics who have said the program was too expensive and could not be funded."

Speaking of funding, AMR and UAL, troubled giants, have stepped forward and said they'd gladly collect nearly a bunch of the money, from their passengers. Chicago has friends in DC who have pledged to send about 1/8 of what's needed, after they collect it from the rest of us. The City will put its bond rating on the line, to float the last 2/3 or so.

Construction could start in 18 months or so.

FMI: www.ohare.com