Buttigieg To Visit Chicago To Tout O'Hare Infrastructure, Training

CHICAGO — U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is scheduled to visit Chicago on Monday to highlight infrastructure investments at O’Hare International Airport, the department of transportation announced Thursday.

Buttigieg, who was appointed to the role by President Joe Biden, has visited Chicago twice in the past year to support infrastructure for commuters and others that rely on public transportation and air travel around the city.

Monday's visit will also highlight workforce training programs that are building the next generation of aviation technicians, federal officials said.

Once in Chicago, Buttigieg will join Chicago officials to make a major infrastructure announcement at O'Hare and to highlight actions the Biden Administration is making to improve air travel this holiday season and for years to come, Federal Aviation Administration officials said on Friday.

Buttigieg will also visit the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Chicago to highlight the importance of strong workforce programs to continue to build the next generation of aviation workers. American Airlines recently announced a partnership with AIM that will provide students access to American’s maintenance facilities and guarantees that top students interview with American. As part of the visit, Buttigieg will meet with students, and leaders from American Airlines, and tour the facility, officials said.

Buttigieg was in Chicago over the summer to meet with Chicago city officials and to discuss making the city’s transportation more equitable.

During that visit, he said that Chicago would see a $2.5 million share of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and that will go to improve the city’s transit system.

“We think that if we invest in the places that have been disinvested in for years or decades, we are creating the opportunities that lead to safety,” he said.

O’Hare is undergoing a terminal rebuild that is estimated to cost $12.1 billion, according to reports. Crain’s Business Chicago reported that inflation has driven the cost of the project.

Related projects to the rebuild are slated to cost $7.1 billion, which is up from the original cost of $6.1 billion.

Crain’s reported that the rebuild will increase gate space for incoming and departing flights by 25 percent. The project includes the demolition and rebuilding of Terminal 2 at O’Hare to handle the influx of international travelers coming in on United and American Airlines flights.