TagAviation Baseline Study(6)

The Regional Aviation Baseline Study, produced by the Puget Sound Regional Council, examines the current state and future challenges of aviation in the Puget Sound region, covering scenario development, airport analysis, and public engagement. The study highlights near-term disruptions to air travel, noting that passenger volume at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport dropped to just 27% of normal levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, with daily travelers falling to 17,200 and aircraft operations declining from 1,160 to 840 takeoffs and landings per day. The findings provide a foundation for regional planning decisions related to airport capacity, operations, and policy.

The Puget Sound Regional Council launched a two-year Regional Aviation Baseline Study, funded by a $1.6 million FAA grant, to assess the aviation system across King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties. The study examined existing airport roles, economic contributions, airspace capacity, and community impacts to build a technical foundation for future regional aviation planning decisions. Conducted in phases from 2019 to 2020, the study included stakeholder engagement, public meetings, and a final report outlining strategies for accommodating future aviation demand in the central Puget Sound region.

A November 2018 presentation by the Puget Sound Regional Council examined regional aviation needs against a backdrop of rapid growth in the central Puget Sound area, where the population rose from 3.7 million to 4.1 million people between 2010 and 2018. Over the same period, the region's job count grew from 1.9 million to 2.3 million, reflecting a strong and expanding economy. The study established a baseline for understanding how this growth affects aviation demand and, by extension, noise and capacity pressures at airports such as Sea-Tac.

A November 2018 presentation by the Puget Sound Regional Council examined the growing demand for aviation in the central Puget Sound region, driven by rapid population growth from 3.7 million to 4.1 million people and job growth from 1.9 million to 2.3 million jobs between 2010 and 2018. The Regional Aviation Baseline Study was presented to the Highline Forum to establish a foundation for understanding how the region's booming economy and population are shaping future airport capacity needs. The study provides context for ongoing policy discussions around Sea-Tac Airport and regional aviation planning.

The Highline Forum held a meeting on November 28, 2018, at the Highline School District's Educational Resource Activity Center in Burien, WA, focusing on education impacts and regional aviation capacity. Key agenda items included a StART Working Group update from the Port of Seattle, a Highline School District update, and a presentation on the PSRC Regional Aviation Baseline Study by Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Director Josh Brown. The document also outlines six bimonthly Highline Forum meeting dates scheduled throughout 2019, all running from 2:30pm to 4:30pm.