IDOT TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR AIRPORT LAND PURCHASES

CHICAGO -- Starting April 4 the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will begin accepting applications from willing sellers whose property lies within the 4,200-acre area of the proposed South
Suburban Airport near Peotone.

IDOT will conduct a public information open house at Governors State University in University Park, Tuesday night, March 27, to explain procedures for purchasing land. The open house will be held
from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Hall of Honors. IDOT land acquisition experts will be in attendance and will have available a variety of printed materials, including applications.

"The State of Illinois will begin accepting applications from willing sellers within the area for the proposed airport site," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Kirk Brown. "Peoples' lives have been put on hold for too long. It is now time to act.

"To help the residents better understand how the process will work, IDOT will host an open house.  This will afford those living in the area an opportunity to ask questions and receive information.  Governor Ryan wants as much information as possible made available about the whole process," Brown said.

Governor George H. Ryan has proposed construction of an Inaugural Airport to be built on approximately 4,200 acres in eastern Will County. The plan calls for one runway and a 10-to 15-gate terminal that can handle an estimated 68,000 operations and 2 million passengers in its first year. The entire footprint of the proposed airport is slightly less than 24,000 acres.

A willing seller is anyone who lives within the 4,200-acre inaugural airport site who wants to sell his or her property for any reason. Also eligible for buyouts by the state are owners with property that would be acquired under hardship provisions. The affected properties will lie within the overall footprint (approximately 24,000 acres) but outside the inaugural site.

Federal and state guidelines will apply to the acquisition of property, including relocation costs. All price offers will be based on fair market value. Also, all owners of property held in trust must be fully
disclosed before the state will issue payment for such property.

Federal and state regulations also will be used to determine what constitutes a hardship. Information on hardship acquisitions can be obtained at the public information open house or from the new office
for the 3 rd Airport at Matteson, Illinois beginning April 4, 2001.

According to Brown, IDOT will begin accepting applications Wednesday, April 4, at an office it is establishing at 4747 Lincoln Mall Drive, Suite 407, in Matteson. Office hours will be Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and evening appointments may be requested.
Information about the open house may be obtained by calling 312-793-6160.

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