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Chris Curry, Airport Director
The NWI Times
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Airport moving forward, needs region's support
Gary/Chicago International Airport's primary goal for the last few years has been extending the runway and relocating the railroad that is now owned by the Canadian National Railroad.
Negotiations have gone very well, and the final phase -- crafting a full binding legal agreement that should allow work to begin in 2010 -- is in progress. Several other facets of the runway expansion program have been completed without delay or are under way and on track.
We have successfully completed a power line relocation project in coordination with NIPSCO. This project involved rerouting high-voltage power lines and running them underground to prevent an impediment to flight when the runway is eventually expanded. This project's costs came in well under budget.
The airport has also been working the Indiana Toll Road Commission to lower the Indiana Toll Road in areas that affect the flight path for aircraft operations.
Our collaborative efforts in coordination with the FAA have resulted in safe flights operations while minimizing inconvenience to airport tenants. This project will provide enhanced opportunities for the airport's flying customers well into the future.
Finally, litigation with the Gary School Corp. over required land parcels threatens to delay the runway expansion beyond our planned 2010 groundbreaking, but we hope to reach an equitable resolution before incurring such a setback.
There are differing opinions within the region as to what the airport should become. The airport has had several studies conducted over the years that provide the path followed by the Airport Authority.
A recent collaboration between the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and the airport has resulted in a business and strategic plan conducted by Landrum and Brown. I hope this plan results in a regional consensus as to the airport's future direction. The RDA and GCIA share the same goal, which is to enhance transportation within Northwest Indiana, and our partnership has been very productive.
The airport is also working with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District under a federal grant program to explore enhanced connectivity between the South Shore Railroad and the airport.
The best airport without regional support is simply the best airport without service. It takes a region to build and support an airport.
Much like the business and strategic plan for the airport, this region needs a plan driven by what is best for the populace as a whole and not by what is best for any particular political faction. The regional plan must have a broader vision than to just be concerned about what happens on someone's perceived turf.
We must acknowledge and respect that there are differences of opinion, but we must also escape the mire and move forward together. The business and strategic plan will help the airport do just that -- move forward with the best interests of the region providing the guiding light.
Chris Curry is Director of the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The opinion expressed in this column is the writer's and not necessarily that of The Times.
This article ran on nwitimes.com on November 15, 2009.
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