City Hall is preparing to launch a plan to spend roughly $1.5 billion to build two new runways at O'Hare International Airport. It's the initial move in a summer-long political dance that should determine whether peace can be negotiated locally to end the region's airport capacity war, or a solution will be dictated by federal officials.

The plan, which requires a final signoff by Mayor Richard Daley before it's submitted to the state by a July 1 deadline, also would clear the way for access to O'Hare from the west, sources familiar with the report say.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-b...id=16621&arc=n

The Chicago City Council's Finance Committee recommended the approval on Monday of two airport bond deals totaling up to $450 million.

The committee passed an up to $400 million Midway Airport revenue bond deal to finance a new parking garage, noise mitigation, and terminal and airfield improvements, according to Brian King, the city's deputy comptroller.

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[This message has been edited by doc (edited 06-25-2001).]