TagPuget Sound(3)

The purpose of this document is to summarize: (1) the planning that has been undertaken to provide for the long-term commercial air transportation capacity needs of the central Puget Sound Region; (2) air travel demand forecasts and need; and (3) the environmental process for the Council's regional planning decision. 1. Commercial Air Transportation Planning The RASP The first regional aviation plan was completed in the late 1960s and has been updated periodically. The 1988 Regional Airport System Plan (RASP, adopted by the Puget Sound Council of Governments, forerunner to the Regional Council), looked at the components of the regional airport system, and offered a detailed series of recommendations regarding commercial aviation and general aviation. The 1988 RASP recommended that planning be conducted to address commercial aviation needs and then, if needed, adjustments could be made to general aviation capacity at airports that might potentially be impacted by the conclusions and recommendations from the commercial aviation studies. The 1988 RASP recommended that Puget Sound Council of Governments, in cooperation with the Port of Seattle as the operator of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, should complete a detailed evaluation of the region's long-term commercial air transportation needs. This effort resulted in the Flight Plan Project (1989-92) and subsequent decision processes and studies. The Regional Growth and Transportation Strategy (VISION 2020) adopted in 1990 recognized the 1988 RASP as the interim air transportation element of the Regional Transportation Plan (now called the Metropolitan Transportation Plan) "until a new plan is adopted." (PSCOG Resolution A-90-01). This…