Expansion ahead for Gary Chicago International Airport
Being No. 3 doesn't mean you're in third place if the game is Chicago aviation. At least that is the view of the Gary Chicago International Airport and the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA).
The two are breaking new ground, building partnerships and focusing on a business plan that will benefit both Northwest Indiana and Chicago.
The RDA was created as a catalyst to transform the economy and quality of life in Northwest Indiana while expanding the Gary Chicago International Airport, redeveloping the Northwest Indiana shoreline, building a unified regional bus system and expanding commuter rail into Chicago.
In April 2010, the Gary airport released a strategic business plan done in partnership with the RDA. The plan was written by internationally recognized aviation consultants Landrum and Brown and takes into account the business dynamics of O'Hare and Midway airports in Chicago. It also identified some niche markets that will complement Chicago's airports and solidify the significance of the Gary Chicago International Airport in this market.
The initial priorities for business development will be charter services and general or corporate aviation. Attracting more corporate and charter flights will provide revenue for the Gary Chicago International Airport, and pave the way for other future uses such as cargo and passenger services.
The Chicago market demands these services, and the Gary Chicago International Airport provides an opportunity to meet these demands while opening up Chicago's gate areas and airspace for larger airlines. With current corporate clients such as Boeing and a 25-minute drive to downtown Chicago, the Gary Chicago International Airport is already on its way.
However, in order to provide full market flexibility for attracting new businesses, the main runway must be extended. The Federal Aviation Administration has dedicated nearly $60 million to extend the runway from 7,000 feet to 8,900 feet and requires that construction be substantially complete by 2013.
Normally, a project of this type would be fairly straightforward, but in the case of Gary Chicago International Airport, a rail line must be moved to make way for the runway extension. Moving rail lines in Northwest Indiana is very complex due to the high concentration of railroads located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan to access Chicago.
Because Chicago is a rail transportation hub for east-west traffic, freight traffic from the northeast has to fit through a narrow corridor in northwest Indiana. While that creates opportunities in the region, in the case of the Gary Chicago International Airport, it has created a hurdle to overcome when it comes to expansion.
After more than 18 months of intense negotiations with three Class 1 railroads, an agreement to accommodate the extension was completed. The Gary Chicago International Airport broke ground on the critical runway expansion on May 25 and is now moving forward with construction.
The “flight plan” for the airport has been filed and approved. The takeoff is scheduled. The destination is clear: Gary Chicago International Airport will serve Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area in new and exciting ways!
Bill Hanna is executive director of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA). Hanna earned his juris doctor from Valparaiso University, his MBA from National-Louis University in Chicago and his bachelor of science degree in organizational management and human resources from Colorado Christian University.
