In a January 2018 letter to the Puget Sound Regional Council, Des Moines Mayor Matt Pina raised concerns about the disproportionate noise, air quality, and environmental burdens placed on Des Moines residents by Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's rapid growth, arguing these impacts are inadequately addressed in the Draft Regional Transportation Plan. The city called for sustainability, human health, and community impacts to be central factors in any decision to expand SeaTac's capacity or site a new regional airport. The letter also requested that the plan include discussion of a potential passenger ferry terminal in Des Moines as a multi-modal transportation alternative.Open full document
Notes
The City of Des Moines submits formal comments to the Puget Sound Regional Council on the 2018 Draft Regional Transportation Plan, focusing primarily on the regional aviation system section. The letter raises concerns about the disproportionate negative impacts experienced by Des Moines residents from Sea-Tac Airport operations, calls for sustainability and air/water quality considerations in airport planning, and requests inclusion of Des Moines’ potential passenger ferry terminal in the plan.