Article Summary:
November 6, 2025
PORT COMMISSION AGENDA & OTHER NOTABLES
Welcome to this 132nd edition of Port Commission Agenda & Other Notables. We’ll be updating you on upcoming Port Commission agenda items that may of interest to Airport cities, as well as other timely, notable Port activities and opportunities. We initiated this as part of our commitment to ensuring timely communications on upcoming Port issues, particularly those related to SEA Airport.
November 11, 2025 – Port Commission Meeting Agenda
The next regular Port Commission meeting will be this coming Tuesday, November 11, 2025 from 12pm to 5pm in a hybrid format both in-person at Pier 69, in the Commission Chambers on the first floor, and virtually on MS Teams.
2025_11_11_RM_Agenda-Revised
2025_11_11_RM_8g_Memo_2026-2030-Environmental-RL-Program-Cleanup-and-Investigation
2025_11_11_RM_8g_Attachment_2026-2030-Environmental-RL-Program-Cleanup-and-Investigation-01
2025_11_11_RM_10a_Memo_Adopting-Final-Budget-POS-Year-2026
2025_11_11_RM_10a_Resolution_Reso-3839-Adopting-Final-Budget-POS-Year-2026
2025_11_11_RM_10a_Presentation_Adopting-Final-Budget-POS-Year-2026
2025_11_11_RM_10a_Resolution_1a-Reso-3840-Tax-Levy
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NOVEMBER 11th
The Commission meeting will be held in person, and virtually. During the regular order of business, those wishing to provide public comment will have the opportunity to: 1) Deliver public comment via email: All written comments received by email to commission-public-records@portseattle.org will be distributed to commissioners and attached to the approved minutes. 2) Deliver public comment via phone or Microsoft Teams conference: To take advantage of this option, please email commission-public-records@portseattle.org with your name and the topic you wish to speak to by 9:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday, November 11th. You will then be provided with instructions and a link to join the Teams meeting. 3) Deliver public comment in person by signing up to speak on your arrival to the physical meeting location: To take advantage of this option, please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of any regular meeting to sign-up on the public comment sheet available at the entrance to the meeting room. For additional information, contact commission-public-records@portseattle.org.
Notable Special Orders that may be of interest:
- None
Notable items on the Consent Agenda that may be of interest:
- Monthly notification of prior Executive Director Delegation Actions for October 2025
- Authorizing the Executive Director to advertise, award, and execute a Major Works Construction Contract for the DA and Condensate System Upgrades Project, to execute related project change orders, amendments, work authorizations, purchases, contracts, and take other actions necessary to support and deliver the DA and Condensate System Upgrade Project within the approved budget; to use Port of Seattle crews and Small Works Contracts to support construction activities in the amount of $11.056 million for a total project cost not-to-exceed $14.656 million.
- Authorizing the Executive Director to extend the term of the existing Memorandum of Agreement with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections for up to an additional four (4) years.
- Authorizing the Executive Director to execute an Interlocal Agreement with the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) to implement a series of support service agreements to allow Port staff to provide services to the NWSA for 2026.
- Authorizing the Executive Director or his designee to execute the Termination Agreement with HG SEA C-1 Retail Concessions LLC and to include the location into the upcoming Request for Proposal (approved by Commission on April 22, 2025).
- Authorizing the Executive Director to spend Environmental Remediation Funds for 2026 in the amount of $30 million and to approve a five-year (5) spending plan for $259 million for the Environmental Remediation Liability Program for 2026-2030.
Notable items on the Unfinished Business that may be of interest:
- None
Notable items on the New Business that may be of interest:
- Public Hearing and Introduction of Resolution No. 3839, adopting the final budget of the Port of Seattle for 2026; making, determining, and deciding the amount of taxes to be levied upon the current assessment roll; providing payment of bond redemptions and interest, cost of future Capital Improvements and Acquisitions, and for such general purposes allowed by law which the Port deems necessary; and directing the King County Council as to the specific sums to be levied on all of the assessed properties of the Port of Seattle in 2026.
- Introduction of Resolution No. 3840, specifying the dollar and percentage change in the Regular Property Levy from the previous year per RCW 84.55.120; providing for an increase on the levy from $88.39 million to $90.18 million.
- Adoption of the 2026 Marine Stormwater Utility Rates with a ten (10) percent increase from 2025.
- Introduction of the Salary and Benefits Resolution No. 3841, amending the Policy Directive for Salaries and Benefits for Employees not covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) established by Resolution No. 3831 and providing an effective date for all amendments as of January 1, 2026.
Notable items on the Presentations and Staff Reports that may be of interest:
- None
You can find the complete meeting agenda at the Port’s website HERE.
Port of Seattle Fire Department Earns Rare Top Rating
The Port of Seattle Fire Department, based at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, has earned a Protection Class 1 (PC1) rating for its ability to prevent and extinguish fires in the SEA complex, and is only the second department in Washington state to receive that honor. Ther certification was awarded by the Washington State Rating Bureau (WSRB), a nonprofit public service organization providing data and information to insurance companies. Only one other fire department in the 114 years of the WSRB has attained a PC1 rating (City of Seattle). You can read more about this achievement HERE.
Ten Community-led Organizations to Receive $2.7 million in South King and Port Communities Fund Economic Opportunities for Communities Funding
Ten community-led organizations across South King County, Beacon Hill, and the Duwamish Valley will receive a combined $2.7 million in funding from the Port of Seattle’s South King and Port Communities Fund’s Economic Opportunities for Communities Program. The EOC (formerly Economic Recovery Program) connects underrepresented communities in South King County, Beacon Hill, and the Duwamish Valley to opportunities for living wage jobs and careers in port-related industries. Among the recipients are: African Community Housing & Development (based in SeaTac); Latino Civic Alliance (based in Burien); Success Foundation of the Seattle Southside Chamber (Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Tukwila); Serve Ethiopians (based in SeaTac); and the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County (based in Tukwila). To read about the specific programs they are providing, as well as those being provided by the other recipients, you can find out more HERE.
Record Number of Applications Received for South King and Port Communities Fund’s Environmental Improvements Program Funding
Thank you for helping to spread the word regarding the October 31st deadline for submittal of applications for funding from the South King & Port Communities Fund’s Environmental Improvements Program. The Port received 29 funding applications for projects to be reviewed. Funding recipients will be announced in Q1 2026.
Port of Seattle’s Community Planting Event – Saturday, November 22nd
It’s almost time once again for the Port of Seattle’s Community Planting Event. Held once or twice a year, the Port invites its partners and community members to plant native trees to help our urban forests. The late fall event will be held on Saturday, November 22nd from 10:00am to 12:30pm. Participants will plant trees and shrubs at a Port site previously overtaken by blackberry and ivy. The trees planted will increase native forest cover with a native shrub understory. The planting location is on 18th Avenue South in SeaTac, south of S. 200th Street, with parking at the SCORE Jail facility parking lot located at 20817 17th Avenue South in Des Moines. Volunteers can register at Community Tree Planting Event • RSVPify. The Port will provide snacks, hot drinks, gloves, and tools. Clothes and shoes appropriate for working outdoors are recommended. This event is family-friendly, and no experience is necessary. Please share this information with your community, and come join us!
Port of Seattle’s Public Art Program Quarterly Newsletter – October 2025
Periodically, the Port of Seattle’s Public Art Program provides an update on the installation and preservation of art at Maritime facilities and here at SEA Airport. The October 2025 newsletter provides a “sneak peak” of recently installed art and art installations coming in the next several months. You can find the October 2025 newsletter HERE. You can find previous editions of the newsletter at the Port’s website HERE.
Activity at SEA
The average number of passengers passing through TSA checkpoints daily for the week of November 2nd was 48,800. That was down substantially from the 55,800 daily average during the week before. The numbers were about the same as the 48,700 per day during the same week in 2024, down from the 49,900 per day in 2023, up from the 47,700 per day in 2022, up substantially from the 39,300 per day in 2021, up from the pandemic-addled 18,300 per day in 2020, and up from the 48,300 that passed through checkpoints in 2019 (101.0% of 2019 counts). The number of aircraft operations (takeoffs and landings) was 1,070 for that week, that’s down from the 1,150 the week before. Previous counts include 1,070 per day in 2024, 1,110 per day in 2023, 1,100 per day in 2022, 1,090 per day in 2021, 830 per day in 2020, and 1,170 per day in 2019. You can find activity measures at the Port’s website and statistics for each week of the of the past few years, as well as the weekly statistics for 2025, HERE. The statistics are updated once a week and cover the week beginning two weeks prior.
Upgrade SEA
The airport’s Main Terminal was designed to process 30 million passengers, and (pre-pandemic) served more than 50 million people. Nearly 46 million passengers used the airport in 2022, nearly 51 million passengers used the airport in 2023, and over 52 million passengers used the airport in 2024.
Upgrade SEA is the capital projects campaign that focuses on major projects and construction happening around the airport. We want passengers to be comfortable and have an efficient passenger experience while having all the comforts necessary without the long lines. We want travelers to be able to spend their time discovering the latest services and amenities the airport has to offer as well as enjoying the plethora of dining and retail options.
In addition to the major capital programs that develop or significantly modernize facilities, the airport manages nearly 100 additional projects that improve the travel experience and help airlines implement their own customer service programs. Improvements at checkpoints, baggage claim, gate waiting areas, shops and restaurants, and restrooms are currently underway.
Here’s a rundown of some of the projects currently under construction, in planning, or coming up for environmental review this year.
Roadway Improvements
As anyone who has visited SEA in the past few years knows, traffic routinely backs-up on the airport drives, particularly when picking up arriving passengers or entering the parking garage. The Roadway Improvements Project (aka Widen Arrivals Roadway Project) will create a more efficient throughway and help improve safety and relieve congestion. Existing lanes will be rededicated for efficient traffic flow and two additional lanes will be added to create dedicated lanes for parking and shuttles/courtesy vehicles. Creating these dedicated lanes will help get commercial vehicles and shuttles off the path of passenger vehicles in order to help minimize congestion and queueing for guests needing access to the Departures and Arrivals Drives curbside. Major construction is progressing, with lane restrictions to allow for the work to be done. Arrivals Drive lanes will be shifted temporarily to the new lanes while they regrade and pave the two existing lanes. This phase of the project is anticipated to be completed in Q2 2026.
South 188th Street Tunnel Improvements
For the past few years, the Port and City of SeaTac have been working to make safety improvements to the South 188th Street Tunnel. The Port owns the structure, and SeaTac owns the roadway and sidewalks. SeaTac completed a paving project with some stormwater improvements in 2022, and signs have recently been posted that prohibit hazardous materials from transiting the tunnel. The Port’s project will improve lighting, signage, fire detection, monitor carbon monoxide, repair cracks and spalls, traffic signals, emergency communications, security measures, and emergency power. Construction is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Note that there will be periodic lane closures on S. 188th Street during the course of the project.
SEA Gateway Project
The SEA Gateway Project (aka North Main Terminal Redevelopment Project-NMTRP) will redevelop the Ticketing level (known as Zones 6 and 7), where Alaska Airlines has its ticketing counters. The project will improve passenger processing with ease access to the security checkpoints and update/upgrade the passenger experience at the north end of the main terminal with new technology and improved check-in and bag drop process. Bag Tag Stations (BTSs) and Automated Bag Drops (ABDs) have opened on the Bridge Level, as well as multiple on the north end of the Ticketing Level. The checkpoint at the northernmost end has been closed to accommodate the work in that area and will reopen later in November 2025. Major construction to be completed in Q1 2026. Full project is anticipated to be completed in mid-2026.
A Concourse Building Expansion for Lounges
The Port of Seattle has developed a plan to meet existing lounge and concessions deficiencies on the south end of SEA. This project will add 52,000 square feet of additional space at the end of the A Concourse. A new two-level Delta Air Lines lounge was added as well as a newly reimagined Club SEA Lounge. The current Club SEA will get a huge redesign and double in size with this project. Delta Air Line’s build-out of DeltaOne and DeltaSkyClub opened on June 25th. The Club SEA project is expected to completed in Q3 2026.
C Concourse Expansion
The C Concourse Expansion Project will add additional floors to the current C1 Building (located next to C Concourse and Main Concourse) and provide additional space for dining, retail, and lounge options for passengers. As with other areas of the dated Main Terminal, there is a lack of space to meet current demand for passenger dining options. The building will add four floors to the existing structure, providing for two floors of dining and retail, improved space for the TSA, additional office space, and lounge space. Most major construction has been completed. Construction of twelve airport dining & retail tenant projects is scheduled to begin in the next week or two. The project is anticipated to be substantially completed in mid-2026.
S Concourse Evolution (SCE)
Formerly known as the South Satellite Renovation & Renewal Project. The project includes significant structural (seismic, HVAC, and utility) upgrades to the 52-year-old structure, as well as reprogramming space in the building for more dining and retail options, due to the shift of the Federal Inspection Service to the International Arrivals Facility (IAF) and the Delta Air Lines Lounge relocating to the A Concourse. A non-SAMP project, there will be no new gates added to S Concourse; the focus of this project is on making the existing building more safe and more welcoming for international passengers and airlines. Design work is underway for the facilitating projects needed to accommodate this multi-billion-dollar project. The Final SEPA Determination of Non-Significance was posted September 30, 2024 and can be found HERE. Facilitating projects will begin in 2025 and 2026. Major construction is expected to begin in 2026 (after the FIFA 2026 World Cup), and the project completed in 2036.
Post-IAF Realignment
With the International Arrivals Facility (IAF) open for a few years now and the A Concourse swing gates installed to accommodate both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, a number of airlines will be shifted over to the B Concourse. The Post-IAF realignment will see United Airlines and others shifted over to B Concourse, and gates on A Concourse converted to Delta Air Line use. United Airlines will begin shifting to over to the B Concourse on November 9th, with the full move expected to be completed by November 14th. Airline specific improvements (including ticket counter improvements) are anticipated to be completed by the end of Q1 2026, and HVAC work after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Q3 2026.
Baggage Claims 15 and 16
Two of the older baggage claim carousels will be replaced and upgraded to more modern equipment. Baggage Claim 16 has been completed, and the replacement of Baggage Claim 15 is now underway. Baggage Claim 15 replacement is expected to be completed by mid-November 2025.
Baggage Optimization
This is a multiphase project to go from six aging baggage handling systems to one unified system. Moving to one system from multiple systems will improve the timely delivery of baggage for all airline passengers, in a much more efficient manner. Phase 3 of the project is now under construction. All phases of the project are expected to be completed by 2029.
SEA Underground Controls Replacement
The SEA Underground (aka Satellite Transit System – STS) is getting an upgrade to its Automatic Train Control (ATC) system. Critical components are being replaced and the software system is getting an upgrade to help make the train system run more efficiently. This project is planned for four phases, with the first phase beginning this year. A complex project, nighttime closures have begun, with more major closures anticipated for the coming years.
Meditation and Sensory Rooms
These rooms will provide quiet space for passengers looking for space to pray, meditate, and to accommodate those who need a peaceful environment due to sensory-related challenges. A similar facilities are planned for the C and S Concourses.
SEA Signage and Wayfinding Masterplan
Wayfinding is one of the Airport’s key indicators of the level of service and opinions from our travelers indicates that SEA’s wayfinding scores low relative to our peer airports. The Signage and Wayfinding Masterplan is intended to provide recommendations and standards that, when implemented, will improve the ability of the passengers to navigate the airport environment. The overall plan has been under development for the past few years. The scope includes signage inside the terminal, on the drives, and in the garage. The Port has been working collaboratively with the City of SeaTac on roadway signage at City access points. New directional signage, Flight Information Boards, and other signs have been installed in Baggage Claim. Expect to see more sign upgrades in the months and years to come.
Landscaping Masterplan
The Landscape Masterplan (completed in 2019) focuses on providing an over-arching landscape design concept that applies to the Airport campus’s public areas that are experienced and seen by visitors and customers. The concept promotes a colorful, unified aesthetic that gives visitors a sense of place and reflects the Pacific Northwest region.
Both the Landscape Master Plan (Landscape Standards), and Wayfinding Master Plan (SEA Signage Standards) can be found at Port’s Design Standards and Guidelines webpage
