Airport Development

The Lansing Municipal Airport (IGQ) is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designated Reliever Airport that provides air capacity relief for the Chicago metro region. Owned and operated by the Village of Lansing, the airport is co-located in the Villages of Lansing and Lynwood, Illinois in southeastern Cook County and it borders the Lake County Indiana communities of Munster and Dyer on the east.

Because of its location and connectivity to Chicago area business markets, the Lansing Municipal Airport is part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) which identifies more than 3,400 existing and proposed airports that are significant to national air transportation and thus eligible to receive Federal grants under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).  In addition, the FAA develops aviation forecasts annually for active airports in the NPIAS.   As part of its proposed expansion plans aimed at meeting current and future demand for airport services, the Village of Lansing is periodically required to evaluate the existing facility, develop an aviation forecast, evaluate development alternatives, facility requirements and plan implementation strategies.

In order to receive federal financial assistance under the Airport Improvement Program for construction of proposed improvements identified in the Airport Layout Plan (ALP), the Village of Lansing  prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) report.

The EA provides a clear understanding of the Sponsor’s Proposed Action.  In addition, it evaluated purpose and need for the planned expansion as well as any reasonable alternatives; and it also identified any environmental consequences including measures to mitigate potential environmental impacts.

The Village of Lansing’s Proposed Action approved by the FAA and the Illinois Department of Transportation in 2013, includes extensions to both ends of Runway 18/36 totaling 1,900 feet. These extensions will take the Runway from its current 4,002 foot length to a final length of 5,902 feet, substantially within the Airport’s current land footprint.

Additional improvements include: strengthening Runway 18/36, constructing aircraft parking aprons and buildings/hangars, constructing stormwater storage basins, and relocating navigational aids. Avigation (or airspace) easements and fee simple land acquisition are also included in the proposed project.

The 2013 IGQ Environmental Assessment including documentation of the process and participants can be reviewed at the IGQ Develoment Website specifically maintained as a repository of pertinent documents and materials.