South Suburban Airport Commission Issues Call for Proposals

November 11, 2003

Airport Commission Issues Call for Proposals
Group seeks airport developers, operators and investors for south suburban
airport

Munster Times, IN


PARK FOREST -- The South Suburban Airport Commission on Monday issued a
worldwide request for proposals from qualified airport developers,
operators and investors to design, finance, develop and operate the new
South Suburban Airport for a term of 40 years, said Commission Chairman Al
McCowan.

Statements of qualifications from interested developers are due Dec. 17,
and technical proposals for the financing, development and operation are
due Feb. 16, 2004, he said.

"Today we set a new course in American aviation history," said
Commissioner John Geils of Bensenville, who first conceived a
public-private partnership for building the South Suburban Airport. "We've
taken a model that's succeeded around the globe, improved upon it, and
brought it to the south suburbs. This airport will bring economic parity
and aviation capacity to the Chicago region."

To date, 26 communities have petitioned to join the SSAC, the latest being
Lansing and Flossmoor. Other communities, such as Calumet City, are
backing the SSAC's purpose in theory without taking the final step of
joining the group.

SSAC officials contend the airport near University Park is scheduled to
open in late 2008 with an estimated 740,000 annual passengers. Property is
being acquired by the state and the Federal Aviation Administration is
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for a 4,200-acre, one-runway
inaugural airport.

The airport is expected to create 1,000 construction jobs by 2005 and
15,000 permanent new jobs by 2008, said U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who
is leading the airport effort.

"Rarely has the state enjoyed such an opportunity," said Commissioner John
Ostenburg of Park Forest. "At a time when airlines are broke and
governments are conserving, we're moving forward with a viable plan to
build an economical airport without burdening taxpayers and by minimizing
costs to the airlines."

A non-mandatory pre-proposal information session will be held Dec. 3 in
Chicago. To register for the pre-proposal information session, and to
request a copy of the RFQ/RFP documents, contact Richard Bryant, Executive
Director of the South Suburban Airport Commission, 2 TownCenter Drive,
University Park, IL, 60466; call (708) 534-4237; or e-mail
rick.bryant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The FAA will host a public hearing on the project on Dec. 3 at Governors
State University.


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