Article by: Greg Hinz, Crain’s Chicago Business, See Original Article 

After three years of bitter public feuding, the Illinois Tollway and the Canadian Pacific Railway have reached a tentative deal that finally should clear the way for long-awaited western access to O’Hare International Airport.

The tollway board has scheduled a special board meeting for tomorrow afternoon to vote on a “letter of intent” with Canadian Pacific Railway.

Tollway officials declined further comment in advance of the meeting. But a source close to the matter tells me that, a year and a half after the tollway sued Canadian Pacific Railway before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board and the two resumed talks, a framework compromise has been reached under which the tollway’s new Elgin-O’Hare Expressway will be allowed to cross over the huge Canadian Pacific Railway Bensenville rail yard just southwest of O’Hare, but at a different point than under previous designs.

Construction on the road could begin next year, a year later than originally planned, if negotiations for a final contract to implement the tentative deal are successful. The road would run from I-90 south and west past O’Hare, eventually joining with I-294.

It’s not known how much the redesign of the southern end of the proposed expressway will cost. But some land swaps likely will be needed, so that Canadian Pacific Railway can regain some operational flexibility it would lose with a huge highway crossing over its Bensenville yard.

The tollway a decade ago thought it had gentleman’s agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway that, when it became time to build the expressway, a usage agreement would be quickly reached. But the railroad’s position stiffened when it got new management, with the Canadian firm insisting it could not afford to give up any of its property.

Since then, management has changed again and big-name Illinois politicians have become involved, including Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg.

DuPage hopes to win an economic development windfall with western access, replicating what happened in Rosemont on O’Hare’s eastern end. But while the latest O’Hare expansion plans call for development of a large entry point and parking lots on the western side of the field, development of a western terminal is not envisioned in the near future.

Related Article: Please, no O’Hare without Western Access

Opinion Editorial by John Carpenter

As Greg Hinz reported in his February 25 column, “$8.5 billion O’Hare expansion deal about to land,” the city of Chicago is close to deal for a massive expansion of O’Hare International Airport. The new O’Hare deal includes a major step towards a providing passenger access from the west— the construction of a 10,000-space employee parking lot on O’Hare’s western edge is a start. As anticipation builds for the announcement of a final deal, establishing a western access point to the airport must remain a critical component of the overall O’Hare Modernization Project (OMP).

O’Hare International Airport is one of the world’s busiest airports, and hundreds of acres of ORD lay within DuPage County. While most appear to be focused on expanding gates and carriers, and possibly even developing a high speed express train to carry passengers back and forth from downtown, it’s important to remember the western access component of the larger OMP is critical to the overall success of the project; this effort will completely transform the economy of the entire Chicagoland region.

Since 2014, the Choose DuPage Economic Development Alliance has worked with the Illinois Tollway and regional public-and private-sector leaders to establish the Western Access O’Hare corridor as a premier global business location. The benefits from building western access are compelling. According to the Elgin-O’Hare Western Bypass Advisory Council, the economic benefits of this project include:

• Creation of 65,000 jobs by 2040
• Local tax revenues expected to increase by $29M annually (based on 2010 projection)
• 13,450 jobs will be created annually in the region during construction
• Travel delays will be reduced, saving an estimated $145M annually by 2040

There have been a number of stories written over the past few years regarding the progress of the Western Access O’Hare project, or rather, the lack of progress, due to continued gamesmanship by the City of Chicago.  There is much at stake here.  Many fail to realize the big picture impact of this incredibly important project, not only for DuPage County, but for residents and business across the Chicagoland region as whole – that means both the City as well as the surrounding suburbs.

Mayor Emanuel has recently touted O’Hare as the “best connected airport” serving one of the most diversified economies.  For this to be true, the commitment to Western Access as outlined in the OMP needs to remain a priority in the final deal the City. This project is vital to the future of our region and will remain a priority for Choose DuPage until it is complete.

Click here to view this in Crain’s Chicago Business

John Carpenter serves as the President/CEO of the Choose DuPage Economic Development Alliance. We are dedicated to establishing DuPage County as a premier global business location by working to expand and diversify the DuPage County economy through actions that stimulate business investment in its communities and generate desirable job opportunities for its residents.

Letter to the Editor of the Daily Herald, by John A. Carpenter, President & CEO of Choose DuPage

There have been a number of stories written over the past few years regarding the progress of the Western Access O’Hare project. Local media has recently questioned if the new I-390 Tollway will ever lead somewhere. It appears people have short memories. The new I-390 Tollway is part of the Western Access effort that will eventually connect to O’Hare creating a western access point to the airport — a project vital to our region, and especially DuPage County.

Key components of the O’Hare Modernization Project (OMP), agreed to and approved 15 years ago, were predicated upon the successful completion of the Elgin-O’Hare Tollway, I-390. The project began with an addition of nearly 50 expressway lane miles. By converting Thorndale Avenue into a limited-access, four-lane highway, we’ve created an extension to the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway, opening the opportunity to build a bypass that connects I-90 and I-294.

This is an incredibly important project, not only for DuPage County, but for residents and businesses across the Chicagoland region as whole. The benefits from the Western Access O’Hare project are compelling. As a component of the larger OMP, this effort will completely transform the economy of the region.

As a quick reminder, according to the Elgin-O’Hare Western Bypass Advisory Council, the economic benefits of this project include:

• Creation of 65,000 jobs by 2040
• Local tax revenues expected to increase by $29M annually (based on 2010 projection)
• 13,450 jobs will be created annually in the region during construction
• Travel delays will be reduced, saving an estimated $145 million annually by 2040

Today, the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing industries have a workforce of 75,000 in DuPage County, nearly 15 percent of our entire labor force. The Western Access O’Hare project is vital to the future of our region if we are to sustain this level of economic activity. Despite the uncertainty that both public-and private-sector organizations face in today’s environment, Choose DuPage continues to work toward expanding the regional economy through actions that stimulate business investment in our region and generate desirable job opportunities for residents.

In a market where industrial vacancy rates have been on a nearly continuous five-year decline, our county is finding new ways to remain competitive. Industrial businesses are making their move to DuPage, and Western Access to O’Hare allows for further growth; this is truly a road to opportunity, crucial to the future of our economy.

Since 2014, Choose DuPage has worked with the Illinois Tollway and regional public- and private-sector leaders to establish the Western Access O’Hare corridor as a premier global business location. This project will relieve congestion in the western suburbs and generate a raft of jobs and economic growth—with or without a new O’Hare western terminal. DuPage deserves this and the region will benefit from it. So, I challenge the notion I-390 is a road to nowhere. Meaningful western access is building a road to opportunity that is crucial to the future of our economy.