TagSound Insulation(132)

The Aviation Noise Working Group met on February 10, 2025, to review operational trends at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and discuss noise reduction efforts. Key topics included the Aviation Near-term Noise Action Agenda, potential airfield noise monitoring, and an assessment of the Sound Insulation Repair and Replacement Pilot Program. The meeting was organized by the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), which facilitates cooperation between the Port of Seattle and neighboring communities.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport launched a Sound Insulation Repair and Replacement Pilot Program following Commission Order 2024-04, approved on February 27, 2024, with a total budget of $6.5 million — including $5 million reserved for design and construction. The program, funded by tax levy, aims to assess and repair aging sound insulation in nearby homes, incorporating equity guidelines for participation. The 2024 assessment timeline includes resident surveys, acoustic testing, and a final report, with design and construction work planned for 2025.

The Port of Seattle mailed this notice to residents near Sea-Tac Airport informing them about the Sound Insulation Repair and Replace Pilot Program, which aims to address aircraft noise in affected homes. Recipients were advised that a formal survey about the program would be mailed to them in early June. Program information and resources are available in multiple languages at www.portseattle.org/sound-insulation.

The Port of Seattle developed this Qualtrics survey to assess the condition of sound insulation treatments — such as windows and doors — previously installed in homes near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Residents are asked to verify their address, confirm property ownership and length of residency, and answer detailed questions about their windows, including how many exist and whether they were installed by the Port. The survey aims to identify items that may need repair, replacement, or maintenance.

The Port of Seattle launched a Sound Insulation Repair and Replacement Pilot Program in February 2024, aimed at addressing mold, water damage, and other problems affecting the roughly 9,400 homes in Burien, Des Moines, Kent, and SeaTac that received Port-funded sound insulation systems. With $6 million in combined Port and State funding, the program will assess and prioritize homes for repair, with work expected to begin on some homes in 2025, though the ultimate goal is securing federal funding to fix all eligible homes. Community organization Sea-Tac Noise.Info is encouraging homeowners to proactively document their issues and connect with the program rather than waiting to be contacted by the Port.