Northwest Indiana RDA approves $20 million for Gary airport

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority approved $20 million for the Gary/Chicago International Airport runway expansion at its regular meeting Tuesday morning.

The airport plans to use the first $8.2 million of that appropriation for land purchases and other projects needed to get the $89 million runway expansion underway. The airport's main runway will be lengthened to 9,000 feet from its current 7,000 feet.

The Federal Aviation Administration has already approved $57.8 million for the project.

The RDA funding is contingent upon the airport living up to a contract approved in a 6-0 vote by the RDA, which will include the airport submitting invoices for all work. It is also contingent upon the Indiana State Budget Agency releasing $20 million in proceeds from the Indiana Toll Road lease, which the state legislature dedicated to the airport project through Major Moves legislation.

"We were satisfied there was a whole lot of good work taking place and that there is a vision for the broader expansion of the airport," said RDA board member Gus Olympidis.

In August, the airport authority made its request for the $20 million at the RDA's regular monthly meeting. RDA members have heard other presentations from the airport at working group sessions.

The airport is one of four primary objectives for development included in the RDA's enabling legislation. The South Shore Railroad, the Marquette Plan for lakeshore development, and regional bus transportation are the other three.