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CAA: Airport News, "O'Hare soundproofing funds likely"
Sunday, March 4, 2000
Soundproofing funds likely
BY ROBERT C. HERGUTH AND FRAN SPIELMAN STAFF REPORTERS
The Chicago Sun Times
With Congress poised to raise the surcharge on airline tickets, Chicago's
top aviation administrator said Friday some of the new revenues might be
dedicated to soundproofing schools and homes near O'Hare Airport.
But Chicago Aviation Commissioner Thomas Walker said the city may not take
advantage of the full increase.
A measure approved by a House-Senate conference committee Thursday would
remove flight caps from O'Hare and allow airports to raise the $3 ticket tax
to $4.50, which could generate an additional $40 million annually for the
city.
"This will allow the fee to be collected; it won't mandate it," Walker said
after an O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission meeting. "We're going to use
discretion, and we're going to look at the market very carefully before any
additional charges will be implemented. "It's reasonable to expect that
there will be some increase, but . . . we may not do it all at once, and we
may not do the full amount."
Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder, panel chairman, asked
Walker to ensure that noise-weary suburbs receive some money for sound
insulation. Walker could not promise more dollars but said, "I can say that
it's among our highest priorities, and it's reasonable to expect that should
these dollars come, you will see some additional dollars to spend on noise
[abatement]."
He also countered fears by suburban activists that phasing out flight caps
by 2002 will mean more delays and noise. Walker said the caps, in effect
during the day, push many flights into the late-night hours, so removing
barriers probably will reduce nighttime noise.
Mayor Daley echoed that sentiment and said some of the extra cash likely
would be used to help finance his $3.7 billion World Gateway program to
bring new terminals to O'Hare.
"Will it mean more noise? I don't think so," he said. "What you're finding
out now is the airplanes are much larger, the noise, the quality as compared
to 25 years ago, the older planes were much noisier."
The city also revealed Friday that accurate noise readings for Schiller
Park, usually recording the highest levels, have been unavailable since
earlier this winter when a garbage truck bumped into a monitoring device.
Assistant Chicago Aviation Commissioner Chris Arman said it is not clear
when monitoring at that spot will resume.
Meanwhile, Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) ripped the plan to lift flight caps,
saying: "This terrible decision will double flight delays at O'Hare, making
last year's gridlock at the airport look like child's play. The decision
threatens the safety of both air passengers and people who live in O'Hare's
flight paths. Both the state and federal governments must move forward
aggressively with construction of a third airport that will provide us the
capacity we need for future growth in air traffic in our region."
The Associated Press also reported Friday a potential snag in the measure
moving forward because of concerns with how future spending is determined.
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