Jet Noise Frustrations Remain After First FAA Meeting On New O'Hare Runway
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday held the first in a series of workshops to discuss a new runway at O'Hare International Airport, but the meeting did little to alleviate the frustration of residents who have suffered through an increase in jet noise for the past two years.
The four workshops this week are aimed at providing residents who live near O'Hare with detailed information on what to expect when a fifth new runway is up and running in October on the far south end of the airfield.
"Some people will see less noise than what they have, and it will be spread out a little better. We want to make sure everybody realizes what's going on over the next few years," FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said.
Many of those who came out to the meeting on Monday vented frustration over increased noise pollution since October 2013, when a different runway was opened, and new flight patterns at O'Hare sent hundreds of flights over homes that had few planes flying overhead before.
"The new runway might help us, we're hoping. We don't know that," said Rosemary Kingston, of Norridge, who lives about two miles east of the airport.
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Several residents said they're not sure the workshops will make a difference, because the noise is never-ending.
Molinaro said the agency is aware of residents' noise concerns. He said city officials have been working on alleviating those problems.
Molinaro also said, once O'Hare finishes construction of new runways in the next few years, noise should be dispersed more evenly over the surrounding neighborhoods and suburbs.
"They'll look at those issues, bring it to what we call the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, which is all the suburbs around, and maybe come up with some solutions, and give them to us, and we'll see what can be done. Again, that's their project to work on, and that's fine, that's great. We don't mind them looking at that aspect," he said. "We have to look at every community around. If we can spread it around so that it doesn't affect everybody tremendously – the same people at the same time – we'll try to do that. Again, we have to make sure everything still stays efficient and safe."
The second workshop was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Taft High School, 6530 W. Bryn Mawr Av. The third was scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Monty's Elegant Banquets, 1170 W. Devon Av., in Elk Grove Village. The fourth and final workshop was scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 13, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Belvedere Events & Banquets, 703 S. York Rd., in Bensenville.
