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FACT: The Village of Elk Grove recognizes the importance of O'Hare Airport. As a result, Elk Grove does not object to the modernization of O'Hare Airport facilities and is not seeking the closure of O'Hare Airport. FACT: In referendums conducted in March 1996 and November 1996, 76% and 72% respectively voted against new runways at O'Hare. Also, in a recent professional survey of residents within 5 miles of O'Hare that asked: "Do you Oppose or Favor O'Hare Expansion?* it showed that 79. 1% of Elk Grove residents OPPOSE O'Hare expansion and 72.9% of respondents within 5 miles of O'Hare OPPOSE O'Hare expansion. Elk Grove Village deserves the protection it needs and deserves a ban on new or reconfigured runways. *Souce: McCulloch Research, July 8-11, 2001
FACT: Studies conducted by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) conclude that demand for air traffic in our area will increase significantly. If a 3rd airport is not constructed in Illinois, that air traffic will be accommodated by airports in other states. Illinois will therefore lose the jobs and economic revenue which stand to be gained from a 3rd airport. FACT: The IDOT study concluded that a 3rd regional airport will benefit the business community by increasing airline competition. Competition will provide several advantages: first, additional competition will lower the cost of airfares for moving time sensitive business travelers and the movement of freight saving time and money FACT: The IDOT study concluded that if O'Hare alone tries to meet the increased demand for air service, then O'Hare will directly serve significantly fewer destinations than it does now. Many more time consuming connecting flights and layovers will be required for the movement of passengers and business freight to many destinations which are now served by direct flights. FACT: A third airport will not harm the economic vitality of Elk Grove Village. The NIPC study concluded that even with a 3rd airport the number of businesses and employment base in Elk Grove will continue to grow significantly. FACT: The Illinois Department of Transportation has called for a third regional airport. Their analysis concluded that air traffic in the Chicagoland area will increase by nearly 40% over the next 5 years. If that demand is not met, then aircraft will be diverted to Milwaukee, Detroit, Indianapolis, Dallas, Atlanta, and other hubs. With aircraft being diverted, the following occurs:
FACT: Elk Grove was planned with O'Hare Airport in mind. The residential section of the Village was separated from the airport by the industrial park, forest preserve, and major interstate highways. However, any expansion of O'Hare will put significantly more air traffic directly over Elk Grove in areas never planned with buffers from air traffic. FACT: Airports are very much like roadways, you cannot build your way out of congestion. New runways add more flights, placing more demand on the congested roadway infrastructure to serve the expansion of flights at O'Hare. Where are the new roadways and additional rail lines to carry the additional congestion created by an expanded O'Hare? The only roadways being discussed now, such as the completion of the Elgin-O'Hare, O'Hare bypass and full interchange at Elmhurst Road, are to meet current demands. Avoiding gridlock and facilitating the movement of goods and persons will have far greater impact in our region than creating more runways at O'Hare. FACT: By 2020 our region will see an increase of 1 million flights, more than double the current capacity of O'Hare. Even with new runways, O'Hare cannot accommodate air traffic demand. O'Hare was constructed to handle 700,000 flights per year. Today it's over capacity handling more than 900,000 flights per year with a continued elimination of flight caps.
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