• 2018-11-28

    Highline Forum Agenda: Education & PSRC Air Capacity Study

    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 the impacts of Sea-Tac Airport on local education and regional aviation capacity. Key agenda items included an update from the Port of Seattle's StART Working Group on community engagement, a report from Highline School District's Chief Operations Officer on school-related concerns, and a presentation by the Puget Sound Regional Council's Executive Director on the ongoing Aviation Capacity Study. The meeting also addressed emerging issues and planning for the 2019 meeting schedule.
  • 2018-09-26

    Puget Sound Gateway Program SR 509 Completion Project: Highline Forum update

    The Puget Sound Gateway Program, presented at a Highline Forum in September 2018, outlines two highway completion projects—SR 509 in King County and SR 167 in Pierce County—designed to improve freight movement between the ports of Seattle and Tacoma and key distribution centers. Among its key benefits, the program includes a new south access point to Sea-Tac Airport and aims to reduce congestion on local roads surrounding the airport. Funding for the program combines state, local, federal, and toll revenue sources, with electronic tolling on all new lanes expected to begin as early as 2025.
  • 2018-09-26

    Final Highline Forum agenda: SR 509 & SR 518 projects

    The Highline Forum held its September 26, 2018 meeting in Normandy Park, focusing on SR 509 and SR 518 transportation projects alongside Seattle-Tacoma International Airport-related topics. The agenda included updates on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan, the StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) community engagement program, and airport noise programs, presented by Port of Seattle officials. Infrastructure improvements in Normandy Park and a WSDOT briefing on regional highway gateway projects were also on the agenda.
  • 2018-09-01

    NTP environmental review schedule

    The Port of Seattle outlined an environmental review schedule for the NTP (Noise Trajectory Program) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, spanning 2018 to 2019. Key steps included public scoping meetings held in September 2018 in cities such as Des Moines, Seattle, Federal Way, and Sea-Tac, followed by environmental analysis and the release of draft and final NEPA/SEPA documents through late 2019. Community members could submit scoping comments by September 28, 2018, via the project website, email, mail, or in person at scoping meetings.
  • 2018-08-16

    Aviation Noise Working Group facilitator’s meeting summary

    The StART Aviation Noise Working Group held its first meeting on August 16, 2018, bringing together community stakeholders, airlines, the FAA, and Port of Seattle representatives to discuss strategies for reducing aircraft noise around Sea-Tac Airport. The group reviewed four potential near-term approaches—including a Runway Use Agreement, a Nighttime Voluntary Curfew, Glide Slope and Optimized Profile Descent Analysis, and an Airfield Noise/Reverse Thrust Assessment—all of which were deemed worthy of further exploration. The group agreed to meet monthly and outlined next steps, including gathering night-operations data and drafting a formal work program to guide future action.
  • 2018-05-23

    Sea-Tac Airport Aircraft Arrival Altitude Analysis

    This May 2018 draft report by ESA analyzes changes in aircraft arrival altitudes at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport across 2013, 2015, and 2017, examining how those changes relate to noise exposure for surrounding communities. Key findings from earlier meetings indicate that while overall arrival numbers increased and traffic flow direction remained stable, there was a notable shift in runway use from center runways to right and left runways, along with changes in the mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft types serving the airport.
  • 2018-05-23

    Final Highline Forum agenda: Aircraft altitudes

    The Highline Forum held a public meeting on May 23, 2018, hosted by the Port of Seattle at Sea-Tac Airport's Central Auditorium, focusing on the theme of Aircraft Altitudes. The two-hour agenda included updates on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan and Federal Issues, as well as a one-hour Aircraft Altitudes Analysis presented by Steve Alverson, Senior Vice President of ESA. The meeting also allowed time for public comments and discussion of emerging issues related to airport noise and flight operations.
  • 2018-04-09

    Aviation Advisory Committee Meeting Summary, April 9, 2018

    The Aviation Advisory Committee met on April 9, 2018 to discuss strategies for addressing aircraft noise, focusing on two main priorities: implementing a nighttime flight curfew and improving community engagement around the Port of Seattle's airport expansion planning (SAMP). Committee members expressed concern that previous Port of Seattle community forums had failed to meaningfully include the most affected neighborhoods, and agreed to draft a letter to the Port demanding more open dialogue. The committee also planned to present a report to the City Council on April 26, 2018.
  • 2018-01-24

    Aircraft arrivals analysis: Progress update

    This January 2018 progress update from ESA presents an analysis of aircraft arrivals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), examining whether notable changes occurred between 2013, 2015, and 2017. The study uses radar flight track data from July and December of each year to compare fleet mix, runway usage, and aircraft altitudes at six nautical miles from the airport. Key questions addressed include whether arrival numbers increased, whether traffic flow patterns shifted between north and south flow, and whether arriving aircraft were flying at different altitudes over the study period.
  • 2018-01-24

    Highline Forum agenda: Aircraft altitudes

    The Highline Forum held a public meeting on January 24, 2018, hosted by the City of SeaTac, focused on the theme of aircraft altitudes. The agenda included a City of SeaTac update, a presentation on Aircraft Altitudes Analysis by Steve Alverson, Senior Vice President of ESA, and a discussion of emerging issues. The meeting took place at SeaTac City Hall Council Chambers and ran from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.