>>> AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS, IT COULD BE TIME FOR A SOUTH SUBURBAN AIRPORT TO TAKE OFF?

LAWMAKERS FROM THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS ARE ADVANCING A PLAN THAT WOULD GET THE BALL ROLLING ON AIRPORT.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST IN THIS SAGA.

THE LINCOLN AIRPORT, THE OBAMA AIRPORT.

IT HAS DIFFERENT NAMES AND PROPOSALS.

FOUR YOU'VE HEARD THE SAYING THAT IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN.

OFFICIALS ARE EMBRACING THAT WISDOM DESPITE DECADES OF TRYING .

AND THE STATE SPENDING NEARLY $100 MILLION TO GET LAND THAT COULD HOST AND THEREFORE.

THIS HAS NOT STOPPED SUPPORTERS.

>> I AM WEARING A LAPEL PIN THAT SAYS AIRPORT 2000.

THIS WAS AN INITIATIVE .

IS TIME TO BUILD A SOUTH SUBURBAN AIRPORT.

>> EVEN IF THERE IS BROAD AGREEMENT, THE PROJECT IS NOT READY TO LAUNCH.

THEY'VE ONLY PURCHASED ABOUT 90% OF THE LAND.

THAT THEY HAVE TO PROCURE THE FINAL 10%.

J.B. PRITZKER SAID THIS WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR HIM TO GET ON BOARD.

HE SAID HE ALSO WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT CARRIERS WOULD USE IT.

>> WHAT YOU DON'T WANT IS IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

JUST BUILDING IT AND HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP TO ESSENTIALLY PAY FOR THE AIRPORT HAVING BEEN BUILT.

YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE BUILDING IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE INTEREST.

>> AND EFFORT THAT IS GAINING SUPPORT WOULD FORCE THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE THINGS ALONG.

THE LAW WOULD REQUIRE THE STATE TO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO OPEN THE DOOR TO DEVELOPERS.

>> DEVELOPERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BUILDING THE AIRPORT PUT PEN TO PAPER TO SHOW THEIR CAPACITY AND DESIRE AND WILLINGNESS AND THEIR MONEY TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE THIRD AIRPORT HERE TODAY.

>> HOW WOULD THIS AIRPORT BE DIFFERENT?

>> THE PLAN WAS TO MAKE THIS AN ALTERNATE PASSENGER AIRPORT.

BUT NOT ANYMORE.

PLANS NOW , FOR IT TO BE CARGO FOCUSED.

>> THIS WILL BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF AIRPORT.

BUILT TO SERVE INDUSTRY.

BUILT TO SERVE CARGO CARRIERS.

BUILT FOR e-COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS.

AND OUR MODERN ECONOMIES.

>> SUPPORTERS POINT OUT THAT THEY HOST THE LARGEST INLAND PORT.

AND AMAZON AND OTHER COMPANIES ARE BUILDING HUGE FACILITY CENTERS NEARBY.

THE LOCAL CHAMBER SAY THAT THE AIRPORT IS A NATURAL FIT AND IT WILL CREATE 10,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND AN ESTIMATED 50,000 PERMANENT JOBS.

>> THE NEW COMPANIES WILL PAY PROPERTY TAXES .

MUCH LIKE O'HARE AIRPORT DOES.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS AIRPORT WILL BRING JOBS BACK TO AMERICA AND RETAIN JOBS IN ILLINOIS.

BUT CRITICS SAY EVEN IF ILLINOIS PURSUES THE ADDITIONAL AIRPORT, THE STATES WILL FIND NO NEED FOR IT.

>> IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED AS A SOLUTION TO THE FACT THAT WE COULD NOT EXPAND O'HARE AIRPORT.

THEM EXPANDED IT.

THEN, THEY DECIDED WE NEEDED A NEW PASSENGER FACILITY FOR THE SOUTH SUBURBS, BUT THE AIRLINES SHOWED ZERO INTEREST.

SO NOW IT IS A SOLUTION TO THE AIR CARGO PROBLEMS.

WE DON'T HAVE AIR CARGO PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE O'HARE AIRPORT, WE HAVE ROCKFORD, AND WE HAVE GARY.

>> HE SAID IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO EXPAND ALL THE THINGS NEEDED TO CREATE A COMMERCIAL CENTER IN WHAT HE CALLS THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

I SPOKE WITH THE LEADER OF THE BOARD WHO IS OPPOSED TO IT .

IS CURRENTLY AGRICULTURAL LAND AND HER LAND IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPERTY THAT WOULD BECOME THE AIRPORT.

THEY SAY THIS HOLE IDEA WOULD BE A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND ROOTED SOLELY IN POLITICS .

AND SUPPORTERS SAY IT IS ROOTED