Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a measure Thursday that will allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to execute public-private contracts for the financing, construction and operations of a third regional airport for greater Metropolitan Chicago.
The legislation allows IDOT to proceed with the purchase of $70 million of land for the airport, to be sited near the far south suburb of Peotone. The Chicago area currently is served by two airports, O'Hare International on the city's northwest side and Midway on its southwest side.