Congressional representative Sean Casten (IL-06) recently announced that approximately $94 million in new federal funding under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will go to Illinois to make much-needed improvements to O’Hare and Midway airports.
O’Hare is set to receive $73,672,455, and Midway will receive $20,245,396.
“Thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this new $94 million investment will deliver new good-paying jobs for Illinoisans while making sorely needed renovations to Midway and O’Hare airports,” said Casten. “These vital investments will ensure that all travelers flying to and from our State have an easier and safer journey.”
O’Hare and Midway will receive a similar tranche of funding from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law each year for the next five years, as part of a program for airport development. The tranche could vary from year to year, as the funding reflects annual enplanement totals. In addition to these guaranteed funds, O’Hare and Midway can compete with other airports across the country for grants from an additional $5 billion nationally for terminal and landside improvements.
November 15, president Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included $15 billion in formula funding to help redevelop airports across the country. Projects that qualify for funding include: Improvements to runways and taxiways, terminal development and noise prevention. The law includes an additional $5 billion nationally for FAA towers and facilities funding, which the FAA will distribute among airports in need.
Earlier this month, Sean Casten (D-IL) flew from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the first passenger flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) along with U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL) and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby.
—Office of representative Sean Casten