(620 ILCS 65/5)

Sec. 5. Findings and purposes.

(a) The Illinois General Assembly finds and determines:

(1) The reliability and efficiency of the State and national air transportation systems significantly depend on the efficiency of the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. O'Hare has an essential role in air transportation for the State of Illinois. The reliability and efficiency of air transportation for residents and businesses in Illinois and other States depend on efficient air traffic operations at O'Hare.

(2) O'Hare cannot efficiently perform its role in the State and national air transportation systems unless it is reconfigured with multiple parallel runways.

(3) The O'Hare Modernization Program will enhance the economic welfare of the State of Illinois and its residents by creating thousands of jobs and business opportunities.

(4) O'Hare provides, and will continue to provide, unique air transportation functions that cannot be replaced by any other airport in Illinois.

(5) Public roadway access through the existing western boundary of O'Hare to passenger terminal and parking facilities located inside the boundary of O'Hare and reasonably accessible to that western access is an essential element of the O'Hare Modernization Program. That western access to O'Hare is needed to realize the full economic opportunities created by the O'Hare Modernization Program and to improve ground transportation in the O'Hare area. It is important to the State that the western access be constructed not later than the time existing runway 14R-32L is removed from service.

(6) For the reasons stated in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), it is essential that the O'Hare Modernization Program be completed efficiently and without unnecessary delay.

(7) For the reasons stated in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), it is essential that acquisition of property as required for the O'Hare Modernization Program be completed as expeditiously as practicable.

(8) The General Assembly recognizes that the planning, construction, and use of O'Hare and the planning, construction, and use of the O'Hare Modernization Program will be subject to intensive regulatory scrutiny by the United States and that no purpose would be served by duplicative or redundant regulation of the safety and impacts of the airport or the O'Hare Modernization Program.

(9) The General Assembly recognizes that the City of Chicago has enacted and successfully implemented ordinances that combat past and ongoing discrimination against minorities and women in the market that competes for contracts with the City of Chicago. These ordinances are among the strongest and most successful in the country, and have made significant progress in combatting discrimination against minorities and women throughout northeastern Illinois.

(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that all agencies of this State and its subdivisions shall facilitate the efficient and expeditious completion of the O'Hare Modernization Program to the extent not specifically prohibited by law, and that legal impediments to the completion of the project be eliminated.

(Source: P.A. 93-450, eff. 8-6-03.)