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Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)

Article Summary:

The Port Of Seattle’s main web portal for all things SAMP.

    

The Port of Seattle and FAA is conducting an environmental review of the SAMP Near-Term Projects. Information can be found at www.SAMPNTPenvironmentalreview.org.

The Central Puget Sound region is expected to grow by another one million people by 2035. The Sustainable Airport Master Plan is the blueprint for changes at Sea-Tac Airport to meet future demand.

In addition to considering forecasted passenger and cargo demand, the master plan takes stock of current facilities, infrastructure, and operations—looking at scenarios five, 10 and 20 years in the future. It includes air quality, energy and water conservation, recycling and other strategic environmental goals, and will align with the Port’s sustainability and energy efficiency goals.

SAMP Focus Areas:

  • Meet forecast passenger demand
  • Meet forecast cargo demand
  • Comply with FAA airfield standards/guidance
  • Improve operational efficiency
  • Provide additional fuel capacity and meet Port’s Sustainable Aviation Biofuel initiative

This Executive Summary summarizes the principal results of the SAMP—the forecasts of aviation activity, facility requirements, alternatives considered, the long-term vision for Airport development, and the projects recommended for implementation in the near term.

Near-Term Projects

Sea-Tac’s SAMP plan recommends more than 30 Near-Term Projects that will improve efficiency, safety, access to the airport, and support facilities for airlines and the airport. Highlights include a new terminal with 19 gates, and an automated people mover with three stations to connect the rental car facility, new terminal, and main terminal. Near-Term Projects will accommodate 56 million passengers and meet the forecasted demand to 2027. Near-Term Projects will be complete or under construction by 2027.

Near-Term Project Highlights

  • 19 additional gates and a second terminal
  • Cargo facilities
  • 30+ projects to improve safety, provide support facilities, improve efficiency, and access to the airport
  • Complete or under construction by 2027

Long-Term Vision

Before recommending additional projects, the Port will participate in a broader regional conversation as well as review results from a new Puget Sound Regional Council regional aviation baseline study and additional Sea-Tac airfield and airspace study. Airspace and financial components are tightly constrained and need further review. Long-term vision recommendations would undergo subsequent environmental review.

Airside, Terminal, and Landside

With the increasing growth in passengers and flights, Sea-Tac is evaluating opportunities and challenges within all three airport operational areas: airfield, terminal and landside (parking and roadways). The SAMP process will culminate in a capital improvement program and financing plan that will deliver the airfield, terminal and landside projects needed to relieve congestion and provide a high level of service to the airport’s customers.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a core value at Sea-Tac Airport and the Port of Seattle. Environmental considerations are part of every decision. From where and what we build to how we operate our facilities. With sustainability as an integral component of the SAMP Near-Term Projects, we want to ensure we minimize impacts to our neighbors, traveling passengers, and business partners.

For example, as part of the SAMP planning process, we developed criteria to screen concepts against our sustainability objectives such as their locations to local wetlands and creeks. We also looked at how approaches could minimize impervious surfaces, which decrease the need for stormwater infrastructure.

We are committed to integrating sustainability into our airport through initiatives as energy and water conservation, the use of advanced technologies, and renewable energy. In addition, sustainable operations are the lasting part of this commitment, and we are dedicated to green transportation and renewable fuel initiatives.

We strive to be one of the greenest and most energy efficient ports in North America. The purpose of the SAMP Near-Term Projects is to meet future growth in activity, comply with FAA standards, enhance airport efficiency, and meet future demand for fuel realizing that we have a responsibility to minimize our impact on the environmental and our surrounding communities.

Community Engagement

The public engagement effort is aligned with key project milestones and designed to keep the public informed as the SAMP develops. Open houses, public meetings, email newsletters, mailed newsletters, and community presentations make it easy for the public to learn more, provide input, and ask questions.

To keep up to date throughout the environment review of SAMP Near-Term Projects, register here to receive email updates, and click the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) box under subscription topics.

Environmental Review

The purpose of an environmental review is to:

  • Conduct an objective analysis of potential cumulative environmental impacts according to established procedures
  • Verify existing conditions and planning forecasts
  • Identify ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts
  • Publically disclose identified environmental impacts
  • Provide full transparency and engagement in the process

The SAMP environmental review process will include the Near-Term Project improvements, which is being conducted to comply with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The SAMP also includes a Long-Term Vision for Sea-Tac which includes projects that are not ready for environmental review at this time, as they require further study and are not reasonably foreseeable. Before any of the Long-Term Vision projects are implemented, the appropriate environmental review process will be conducted. Learn more about the environmental review of the SAMP Near-Term Projects.

Major Components and Timeline

Sustainable Airport Master Plan Timeline

Documentation

Planning Outreach Materials

Planning Technical Memos

Environmental Review Documents

SAMP Near-Term Projects Scoping Report

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