by Carol Henrichs

Created on: May 06, 2009

The push for a new airport to supplement O'Hare and Midway airports began more than two decades ago. Whether a new airport is needed remains a question unanswered, except by common sense.

Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn recently announced his support for a new airport near the small town of Peotone, about 40 miles south of downtown Chicago. He proposed spending $100 million to buy land. Quinn's push for a new airport is not new. In fact nearly every Illinois governor since 1968 has given lip service to the proposal, yet the political will has never been enough to push the project to fruition. But that isn't for a lack of trying.

The Peotone airport, as it has been called, is not a transportation solution to aviation capacity. In fact, the state's fixation with building this public works project has gotten in the way of genuine transportation discussions which for too long have been pushed aside.

With a sharp focus on what an airport could bring - jobs, contracts, political contributions, and concessions - translates into control and clout. Since the most recent study process began anew in 1985, and despite federal law that requires studying alternatives, Illinois transportation officials have all but ignored any possibility that would have supported a no build option.

But in recent times, the politics has changed. The aviation industry has changed. Government is in the process of changing as well, even in Illinois where 'pay to play politics' has landed one governor in jail and another under indictment. Many hope that before Quinn actually spends the $100 million to buy land that he sees the error of his ways. Quinn talks about frugality, honesty, cutting frills. He calls himself a "repairman" interested in ethics restoration and says he wants to fight for everyday people. Those attributes fly in the face of what has occurred by past government officials bent on building a new airport near Peotone.

Airport alternatives are many, yet have been largely ignored by Illinois transportation officials. For example, there is now a renewed interest in high speed rail, which could directly compete with air travel. It was all but dismissed as not a viable option by previous Illinois governors. But, for the first time in decades, the country has a President and Illinois has a governor that is open to new rail technology.

Transportation includes more than moving people. The movement of freight is a big business, especially in Chicago which has a huge advantage because

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