Elk Grove Village last week announced it would drop its long-standing opposition and legal challenge to Chicago’s $7.5 billion expansion of O’Hare International Airport.
Mayor Craig Johnson said the suburb’s move was based on Illinois’ decision to alter plans for road construction tied to the airport expansion so that it would be less disruptive to a village business park. “Today is a definite win for the community,” Johnson said.
In another blow to the opposition, Bensenville voters last week ousted longtime village President John Geils, instead electing Frank Soto.
Geils was a key opponent of the expansion project, while Soto has said he favors negotiating with the city to win concessions such as sound-proofing.
Both communities were the key suburban members of the O’Hare Suburban Commission that was behind the ongoing legal challenge. The suit failed to halt construction but delayed some projects.
The first phase originally had a price tag of $2.9 billion, but that has grown by $400 million due to construction delays. It relies on $1.6 billion of general airport revenue bonds and $659 million of bonds backed by passenger facility charges, as well as general airport revenue, the use of PFCs on a pay-as-you-go basis, and $330 million in federal grants. O’Hare’s airlines have not yet approved the second or third phases.
Separately, the Chicago City Council recently approved the appointment of Rosemarie Andolino as aviation commissioner. She has served since 2003 as executive director of the O’Hare Modernization Program and will continue in that position as well.
