Mayors tout South Suburban Airport for freight

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While many area residents object to a third airport near Peotone, Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki and Blue Island Mayor Don Peloquin on Monday said it would make sense to have a cargo-based airport there. | File photo

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Updated: March 15, 2012 8:09AM

The much-discussed and long-awaited third airport still is far from being approved, much less built.

But two Southland mayors said Monday that if airplanes ever do land and take off at the proposed site near Peotone, they should be devoted to carrying freight.

Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki and Blue Island Mayor Don Peloquin said freight companies could make the best use of existing rail lines and highways to move products to and from the airport.

Zabrocki, Peloquin and Lynwood Mayor Eugene Williams were part of a mayoral panel discussing economic development Monday at the Chicago Southland Chamber Regional Consensus Luncheon at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

“We understand now we are all in this together,” Peloquin said. “We have the intermodal facility in Elwood. We have I-57 and 294. We have the I-80 corridor which is already in place. We have the opportunity, if we work together, to rebuild this great state and this area into the hub of the Midwest.”

Zabrocki agreed that Southland mayors need to work together regarding the third airport and other issues.

“Tinley Park supports the third airport. We think it will be an economic engine for the south suburbs as long as it’s done properly,” Zabrocki said. “Exactly what is it going to do? And, geez, guys, let’s do it. Let’s stop fighting about who’s going to sit on a board some place.

“Let’s get it done and over with,” Zabrocki said to applause.

Peloquin, who is running for the U.S. House seat in the 1st District, said the airport will be a key part of his campaign. If he wins the Republican nomination in the March 20 primary, he could face U.S.
Rep. Bobby Rush in the general election.

An airport, he said, would be a priority for him in Washington.

“A cargo or freight airport can be privately funded, privately run and overseen by Will County with the help of Cook County. There’s tremendous potential. We hear about O’Hare and the congestion there. If you were to take a couple cargo carriers out of there, that would create a network of jobs and open up the passenger flights at O’Hare,” Peloquin said.

“We have to figure out a way to get it built. The concept started in 1969. We no longer can wait. But we have to develop it together, and now, and on the private dollar because the state can’t afford it.”

Crete Mayor Michael Einhorn, who was not at the luncheon, said when contacted later that an airport built just to transport cargo is not a good idea.

“A freight-only airport would be somewhat shortsighted,” he said. “If you put down a runway, I think of putting people on planes.

“It doesn’t need to be one type of airport or the other. I don’t know how much demand there is for freight,” he said. “They can talk that up if they want, but I’ve never seen any numbers that indicate there’s a huge demand.”

Williams was noncommittal on the third airport other than saying it would create jobs. He is more focused on the extension of Joe Orr Road, the relocation of Lynwood’s village hall and attracting a casino and development to Lynwood.

Extending Joe Orr Road east to Munster, Ind., will open the potential for economic development, Williams said. Groundbreaking on the project is expected in the spring.

“Right now, there’s only two ways to get to Indiana: I-80 and U.S. 30,” he said. “There are bottlenecks, and now we’ll have a shortcut. We’re going to force this development. We’re going to make this happen. And the reason it’s going to work is the traffic flow.”

Williams said Target approached him about seven years ago, and he’s hoping the changes will make
Lynwood more attractive to the retailer.

Also high on his list is a casino.

“You can put it anywhere. The gamblers will find it. Imagine the additional development that would almost be required,” he said.