Mayor Daley Dedicates New Midway Airport Terminal; Announces $60 Million for Home and School Soundproofing
CHICAGO -- April 9, 2001 --
Mayor Richard M. Daley formally dedicated the new Midway Airport terminal today and announced that an additional $60 million will be made available to soundproof homes and schools in communities around the airport.
"Midway Airport is one of the greatest success stories in the State of Illinois and one of the fastest-growing airports in the country," said Daley, who was joined at a ceremony the airport by U.S. Rep. William Lipiniski and representatives from ATA and Southwest Airlines. "Thanks to a new terminal, added gates and other improvements, Midway is a bustling base for moderately priced airline, cargo and small plane traffic."
The Mayor added that, "The City of Chicago, the airlines and Congressman Bill Lipinski are committed to the people who live and work around Midway Airport and we are stepping up our ongoing efforts to minimize the impact of aircraft noise."
The Residential Soundproofing Program will receive an additional $50 million for noise remediation. This will allow single-family homes that fall within the 75 DNL to receive sound insulation. DNL, or day-night noise level, is the federally required measure of airplane noise.
The City is recommending that with the additional noise remediation funds, the Midway Noise Commission consider soundproofing eligible multi-family homes for the first time. This would extend eligibility to owner-occupied residential buildings with four or fewer units that fall in the 80 DNL.
Another $10 million will be dedicated to schools. When construction is completed on those schools over the next two years, all schools impacted by aircraft noise from Midway Airport will have been soundproofed.
"This additional funding ensures noise remediation in our neighborhoods through 2004," said Lipinski. "It is an example of government and citizens working together toward a common goal: addressing quality of life issues in the Midway Airport communities."
The Midway Noise Compatibility Commission, composed of representatives from communities that surround Midway, determines which homes and schools receive noise remediation and advises the City of Chicago on noise related issues.
"The Noise Compatibility Commission applauds the City of Chicago and the airlines for their continued commitment to our goal of reducing the impact of aircraft noise in our communities," said Commission Vice-Chair Harry Klein.
By the end of this year, all single-family homes within the 80 DNL will have received noise remediation. The additional $60 million will allow the Midway Noise Commission to soundproof approximately 500 homes a year beginning in 2002, well ahead of the current pace of 300 homes per year. Eligible homes will be based on the 2000 Noise Contour, which will be released this summer. To date, 570 homes and 18 schools have been completed.
The new money will bring the total investment in home and school soundproofing in the Midway area since 1998 to over $130 million. Funding comes from Federal Airport Improvement grants and airport revenue bonds backed by Passenger Facility Charges. No state or local tax dollars are used for soundproofing or for the operation of Midway Airport.
Midway's new 900,000-square-foot Terminal Building opened to passengers on March 7. A major milestone in the Midway Airport Terminal Development Program, the terminal features state-of-the art amenities. This summer, a new concessions area featuring Chicago-style restaurants will open along with the new security checkpoint and gates.
Mayor Daley thanked community members for their patience and support during the ongoing construction of Midway Airport, saying, "The people who live and work near Midway have seen its transformation up close. They have driven around the construction, found other routes when Cicero Avenue was moved. They have lived with the inconvenience, and through it all they supported Midway and the Terminal Development Program. For that, I am extremely grateful."
The Midway Terminal Development Program will generate nearly $4 billion in economic activity for the region and create close to 94,000 temporary and permanent jobs by 2010.
