Under a new Department of Transportation initiative, the city of Chicago will receive $153 million to reduce traffic congestion. The DOT states that the “innovative proposal will reduce gridlock through the use of congestion pricing for street parking spaces and faster, more reliable bus service…”

I don’t argue that Chicago should get the money. Anyone who has spent some time in the Windy City knows how backed up things can get downtown on both sides of the river, as well as on the Dan Ryan and other highways. However, I would like to see the same type of money and effort put forth to handle air traffic problems at Chicago O’Hare. O’Hare is generally viewed as the second busiest airport behind Atlanta Hartsfield, and it’s used as a point of connection for domestic and international travelers on their way to destinations all over the world.

We as travelers are giving money to the FAA each time we fly, and money could be used to reduce traffic at O’Hare and other major airports throughout the country. Keep reading to see how much we’re shelling out to the federal government and how it should be used…