'We love all our children': Rockford airport still on state’s radar

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

Gov. Pat Quinn says his push for a new airport near Peotone won’t divert state support from Chicago Rockford International.

“I feel very strongly toward this airport,” he said today at a news conference in the terminal. “It has a great opportunity to be the northern star of economic development here in northern Illinois.”

Last week, Quinn said he wanted to build an airport about 40 miles south of Chicago “as fast as humanly possible.” Asked about that today, Quinn said he didn’t mean that as a slight toward Rockford.

He spoke to airport officials privately before the news conference.

Mike Dunn, chairman of the Greater Rockford Airport Authority board of commissioners, said he was put at ease by the meeting.

“I wanted to make sure we weren’t going through one more governor who’s not paying attention to what we’re doing up here,” he said. “He made it clear that he understands the state’s role in financial support to the airport.”

Quinn said a key to funding airport improvements around the state is the passage of a $26 billion capital construction plan.

Two longtime supporters of the Rockford airport showed up to Quinn’s event with signs opposed to the Peotone airport.

“The guy (comes) to Rockford when he wants to build Peotone. It’s a little bit disingenuous,” said Jake Henry, who lives near RFD and was one of more than 4,000 people who donated money in 2003 to help bring passenger service back. “Nobody wants Peotone, so why keep pushing it?”

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tony Molinaro said earlier today, though, that Peotone — and Rockford — are needed to relieve long-term congestion at Chicago’s airports. He said the FAA supports a south-suburban airport, but it won’t stop sending money to Rockford as long as it keeps growing.

“We love all our children,” Molinaro said. “Rockford needs to be strong and Gary needs to be strong. ... Chicago is a major population center, with all those people who need aviation service.”

The New York City and Los Angeles areas have more than three airports apiece, he noted, with smaller airports growing to relieve the larger ones.

An airport south of Chicago is needed more for the long-term growth of the south suburbs, Molinaro said. It is projected to be a small facility to start, without many flights for its first five to 10 years.

The state submitted an updated plan for the Peotone airport last year, but it still needs to update the aviation forecast and submit other documents, Molinaro said. After that, the FAA can work on an environmental study.

Even Henry isn’t worried about Rockford getting less money if Peotone is built: “Rockford’s going to grow on its own.”

Contact staff writer Thomas V. Bona at 815-987-1343 or tbona@rrstar.com.