Date: 201310
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: MDW.Airport, IL
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Tower MDW
Second aircraft: Small Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Ground
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Workload; Distraction
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control; Person Flight Crew
When detected: Taxi
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Procedure; Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related
Primary problem: Environment - Non Weather Related

Narrative: We were landing and departing Runway 31C; also departing Runway 22L due to compression on final for Runway 31C. The next Controller had plugged in for the relief briefing. A B737 was back taxiing Runway 31R to hold short of Runway 22L. I asked Local Control to cross Runway 22L behind the departure; which was another B737 aircraft. I heard the Controller respond and thought crossing was approved. After the B737 departure; I told the other B737 to cross Runway 22L. I then noticed a Cessna starting departure roll on [Runway] 22L. I asked local if that aircraft was departing. I told the B737 to stop. The crew read back instructions to stop; crossed the hold short line painted on [Runway] 31R; but not did enter the runway. The ASDE-X did not alert. The Cessna departed safely. The Local Controller said afterward that I was told to cross behind the second departure; the Cessna. I either misunderstood or did not hear the coordination completely. The only thing that would prevent the recurrence of this event would be more complete coordination and ensuring that what I heard was correct.


Second narrative: We had just landed on Runway 31C at MDW and Tower instructed us to clear to the right and contact Ground. MDW Ground Control instructed us to back taxi down Runway 31R and cross Runway 22R; hold short of Runway 22L. The Captain had not yet brought the aircraft to a complete stop approaching Runway 22L when Ground Control issued clearance to cross Runway 22L. As the First Officer; I was clearing the departure end of Runway 22L for traffic when I heard the Captain ask over the intercom; 'Is that guy moving?' Although still rolling forward; but not yet across the runway edge markings for Runway 22L; he began to slow the aircraft. By the time I turned to look in that direction; the Captain was already bringing the aircraft to an immediate stop. After we had reached a stop; the MDW Ground Controller issued a command for us to 'Stop' over the Ground frequency; which the Captain had already completed. I estimate that the nose of the aircraft was over the Runway 22L edge marking. The traffic on Runway 22L continued the takeoff and as far as I can tell; was never aware of the issue.Better communication between the Tower and Ground Controller. Maybe not using a runway for taxi would help minimize confusion between Ground and Tower Controller.


Synopsis: A MDW Ground Controller and two B737 pilots describe the confusion which developed between Tower and Ground when a Cessna Citation was cleared for takeoff while the B737 was cleared to cross that aircraft's runway. The Captain stopped the aircraft barely clear of the runway.