A peace treaty on O'Hare expansion

The Treaty of Versailles. The Paris Peace Accords. Both historic events, and suddenly old foes became, well, if not friends, at least no longer at war.

The apparent end of the Battle Over O'Hare probably won't get such a dramatic name, but it's pretty groundbreaking for people in these parts.

Newly elected Bensenville Mayor Frank Soto recently sat down with Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino for a cordial conversation and exchange of information, ending four decades of fighting over airport expansion, as Daily Herald Transportation Writer Marni Pyke reported this week.

Bensenville, with so much at stake at the airport's southwest corner, was the last holdout in the classic city vs. suburbs conflict. Longtime ally Elk Grove Village stepped out of the fray in April, dropping lawsuits opposing airport expansion after the Illinois Department of Transportation dropped a proposal to widen Route 83 through town as part of a new western entrance to O'Hare. Other suburbs surrounding O'Hare quit the fight years ago.

We're glad to see the cease-fire. We've long supported expanding O'Hare and hope Soto's new approach helps bring healthy redevelopment to the village, where sad rows of about 600 former homes and businesses already sit condemned near Irving Park and York roads as airport construction moves closer.

The change in tactics seems well-timed to give O'Hare's former suburban foes maximum leverage over road placement, infrastructure improvements and buffers against airport noise and views. Ever sensitive of any blemishes on its 2016 Olympics bid, Chicago wants the work to proceed harmoniously and be done by 2014.

A 40-year battle doesn't come without a few lessons, like the importance of unity. With key decisions such as the placement of the western O'Hare access still to be made, the suburbs bordering O'Hare should continue to work in concert toward solutions that will benefit the region as a whole.