12.18.12

Durbin Meets with Rockford Airport Director to Discuss Support for Regional Transportation Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Mike Dunn, Director of Chicago Rockford International Airport, to discuss regional transportation and infrastructure priorities. A photo of today’s meeting is available here. Dunn has served as the airport director since January 2012. He previously served as an airport board member and board chairman.

“As one of the busiest air cargo airports not just in Illinois, but in the entire country, Chicago Rockford International Airport plays a critical role supporting jobs and spurring economic activity throughout the region. While the airport continues to grow as an air cargo hub, it is also expanding its passenger air capacity in order to better serve northern Illinois’ residents and travelers,” Durbin said.

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is currently ranked one of the most active air cargo airports in the United States. Earlier this year, Durbin announced a grant of $4,792,402 through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program for runway and taxiway rehabilitation at RFD. Upgrades to the runway will allow the airport to accommodate current and additional air cargo activity. In 2011, RFD received a federal grant of nearly $7 million for the first phase of its runway reconstruction project, which is the first major rehabilitation of the runway since 1983.