Illinois to begin statewide airport study

SPRINGFIELD — The state is starting a study the airport in Illinois to find out their economic benefits on local economies.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced the study on Monday. It will be 18 months long and include more than 100 airports across Illinois. The study will cost nearly $600,000 — 95 percent federal funding and 5 percent state funding.

The goal is to find the value of each airport to the local community and the Illinois economy. IDOT aeronautics director Susan Shea said the information will provide a benchmark for “future enhancement of the state’s overall aeronautics system.”