Kankakee Times

A construction professional wants President Donald Trump to step in to ensure construction of a proposed airport in the south suburbs of Chicago.

In an anonymous letter to Dan Proft, host of Chicago's The Morning Answer radio show, the concerned citizen gave a few reasons why the Peotone airport should be built in the state. Proft is a principal of Local Government Information Services, which owns this publication.

“The president could effectively make his point with [Chicago Mayor] Rahm Emanuel that he does not have to cut off funding to shift tens of millions of dollars away from Chicago,” the letter stated. “By not cutting off much of the funding, he robs Emanuel of the propaganda tool of President Trump ‘cold-heartedly cutting off funding for the safety of our children and most vulnerable citizens,’ or other such claptrap.”

After speaking with the source, the individual also claimed the hypothetical airport would have great air freight potential.

“Air freight is the key to most large airports, more so than passengers,” the individual told the Kankakee Times.

Also noted was the talk of a new Amazon freight building by the airport. The source said if this airport weighed more heavily on air freight, there would be less emphasis on restaurants that are costly to construct and maintain. As reported, “There would be much more profit per flight.”

“The initial runways and infrastructure should be geared toward air freight since Amazon and Ikea both have new and massive operations right on the edge of the property,” according to the letter. “Freight, not passengers, are the lifeblood of major airports and Peotone would be perfectly centered to take advantage of all major U.S. roadways and rail systems and allow regionally based freight to completely bypass the Chicago traffic nightmare.”

The airport would create jobs for many Chicago workers, the source said.

“The whole region would be immersed. Workers from the Southside of Chicago who are being forgotten would have a major presence," the source said. "There’s a great deal of talent as far as engineering and safety and inspection.”

Additionally, constructing the airport could allow for many diverse citizens to get involved, such as the African-American community.

“All levels that are in the south suburban area that is just ready to go,” the source said. “This wouldn’t require a large outreach to the world. You have it right here in the Midwest. It would definitely be a boom.”

The source said building an airport in the south suburbs, where existing infrastructure isn't in the way, would be less expensive and less hassle than continuing to expand O'Hare International Airport.

The source concluded this new infrastructure fulfill Trump's promises.

“The president could keep his pledge to build infrastructure – new roads will be needed in Illinois and Indiana – and partner with the unions while keeping major funding out of the hands of Chicago Democrats,” the source wrote, also noting that, by doing this, there could be a possible extension of the highly traveled Interstate 355.

"It is a cash generator and would benefit all surrounding counties,” the source said.