SCHNEIDER, DURBIN, DUCKWORTH, ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $7.95 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ILLINOIS AIRPORTS

The Chicago Executive Airport and the Decatur Airport will receive a combined total of $7.95 million in federal funding for runway improvements, sound mitigation

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today announced a total of $7,951,873 in federal funding for the Chicago Executive Airport and the Decatur Airport. This funding stems from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program, which supports the planning and development of public-use airports.

"Investing in our airports is laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability. With this grant announcement for Decatur Airport, Illinoisans will see upgraded airport infrastructure, making travel safe and more efficient. Additionally, this funding will ensure that Illinoisans who live near the Chicago Executive Airport can mitigate the sounds of flyovers while still having access to a quality airport," Durbin said.

"Illinois airports are critical economic engines for our state," Duckworth said. "This major investment will help modernize infrastructure, install new runway safety measures and support noise mitigation for surrounding neighborhoods. Together, we will continue working to make air travel safer and more reliable for all passengers while ensuring that our airports are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve."

"I'm glad to work alongside my colleagues and local leaders in Illinois to announce more than $3.8 million in federal funding to support noise mitigation around Chicago Executive Airport," said Schneider. "This project will support the health and well-being of nearby residents while ensuring the airport can continue to serve Cook County. In Congress, we will continue working to deliver funding that supports local priorities and projects."

Specifically, this grant funding will go toward:

1. Decatur Park District ($4,081,873). This funding will go the construction phase of the Decatur Park District's project to reconstruct existing runway signage at the airport; acquire and install three new wind cone navigational aids to provide pilots with critical airfield information; and reconstruct existing runway lighting.

1. Chicago Executive Airport ($3,870,000). This funding will go toward the state's project to install sound installation mitigation measures for 2,202 residences impacted by airport noise exposure. This funding allotment will support the project's current phase, which consists of program planning, design services, and sound insulation for 110 residences.

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