The Next Giant Taxpayer Pork Project is on the Runway

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Opponents of federal pork projects are fearful the proposed White House economic stimulus package will contain funds for the ill-conceived O'Hare Modernization Program. The $20 plus billion project has been heavily criticized by the six major airlines who service O'Hare Airport. The neighboring Villages of Elk Grove and Bensenville have also questioned the feasibility of the project, which could be the largest piece of pork contained in the new stimulus package.

"Everybody knows that the expansion plans will do little to reduce flight delays at O'Hare Airport," says John Geils, president of the Village of Bensenville. "Six major airlines, including United Airlines and American Airlines, pointedly told the City of Chicago that they want a thorough re-examination of the benefits of the O'Hare Modernization Program. Could the message be any clearer?" Hidden in Chicago's PR hype is the fact that the $20 billion project will: 1) require one-hour bus rides from remote terminals and parking lots, 2) require 45 minute aircraft taxiing times from remote runways to the terminals, 3) result in massive aircraft taxiing traffic jams because of an improperly placed runway 4) result in a several hundred percent increase in runway crossings which endanger public safety.

Many community leaders have pointed out the O'Hare mega-project is behind schedule, underfunded and simply doesn't make sense. The slumping airline industry, which is cutting both its fleets and its workforce, says it is in no position to commit funds for the project. In fact, studies show that O'Hare gates leased to United Airlines and American Airlines are already underutilized and that the airlines are trimming the number of flights by about 15 percent.

"This project has an estimated $20 billion price tag and nobody can tell us what value we'll get for our money," continued Geils. "Supporters of OMP want taxpayers to pick up the cost of the O'Hare project, even though it won't decrease delays, won't serve the public and the airlines don't want it. That smells a lot like a pet pork project."

www.stop-omp.org is dedicated to stopping the senseless, ill-advised and flawed O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) and preventing further unnecessary displacement of families and waste of taxpayer dollars. Community leaders, concerned citizens, aviation industry leaders and economic experts continue to urge the FAA to adopt viable alternatives. These include runway configurations proposed by the Chicago air traffic controllers, use of congestion management techniques, reliance on other nearby airports, and construction of a third airport.