O'Hare expansion needs review

We've long been a backer of the expansion of O'Hare International Airport. So the opening last week of the first new runway since 1971 was a welcome first step in achieving the goals of expansion - increasing capacity and reducing delays.

But we also share in the concern that the project's costs have escalated and the cautionary words from some that the state of today's economy may mean that some elements of the expansion need to be rethought.

Chief among those urging caution was United Airlines CEO Glenn Tilton: "All we're saying is a good strong business case has to be made. Let's make certain we're not following a rigid application. As the economy changes, we want to continue the dialogue."

Sound advice, we think. That's not to say the whole project should be halted. We know that's what the anti-expansion folks are hoping will happen after years of losing battles with Chicago over the plans.

"To say that we were right is an understatement," said Bensenville Village President John Geils. "This is a PR hoax. It's time to do a different plan."

We're not ready to go there yet. But we do think an analysis of the remaining parts of the project is needed and key questions about funding of the project need to be resolved.

Estimated costs of the entire expansion project have risen from $6.6 billion to $8 billion. More than a year ago, we reported the airlines were balking at paying more money to help pay for the project and they also were opposed to the city's plans to increase the federal tax on plane tickets.

The ticket fees are still part of the funding plan as are loans and government grants. An idea to pay for a western terminal is to raise money from the private sector through naming rights, leasing or other sponsorships.

The problem is that the funding sources are still a little murky. The airlines specifically said they want to look again at the need for a new terminal. We think that's wise to reconsider.

What's necessary are the new runways to help reduce delays. The runway that opened last week and the extension of another completed in September only reduces delays from the current average of 16.2 minutes to 15.5 minutes, a 4.3 percent difference. The biggest drop in delays comes when another runway is built to the south. That reduces delays to 10 minutes on average.

From a suburban standpoint, we believe O'Hare is an economic engine for business and jobs in the area. It needs to be operated more efficiently and there needs to be easier access from the west.

We have supported the expansion for those reasons. Yet, we are concerned about the state of the project and so we urge Chicago officials to listen, discuss and make adjustments if necessary to ensure the current plans are the best and most cost-effective way to reach those goals.