TagStART(502)

The Highline Forum held its November 19, 2025 meeting at the City of SeaTac Council Chambers, hosted by the City of Des Moines, with a focus on transportation updates including presentations from WSDOT on the SR 509 project, Sound Transit, and a StART update from the Port of Seattle. The forum, co-chaired by Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho, also covered local transportation roundtable discussions and planning for 2026 co-chair roles and meeting schedules. The 2026 meeting calendar lists six bimonthly sessions, with the first scheduled for January 28, 2026 at Port of Seattle's SEA Airport facility.

The Des Moines, Washington Airport Advisory Committee met on October 13, 2025, to discuss matters related to the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) and noise-related community concerns, including a review of citizens' complaints received over the prior month. The committee voted unanimously to recommend adding legal services to an existing Interlocal Agreement related to airport planning, and reappointed Joe Dusenbury as the city's representative to the StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) noise oversight body. The November 10, 2025 follow-up meeting agenda includes a Q&A session, further StART and SAMP updates, and continued review of community complaints and communications.

The StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting agenda for October 22, 2025 outlines a two-hour Zoom session focused on updates related to noise and development at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key topics include a review of the FAA's Record of Decision for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan's Near-Term Projects, an update on the Part 150 Noise Study, and reports from the Policy and Aviation Noise Working Groups. The meeting, facilitated by Uncommon Bridges and led by Port of Seattle staff, also includes a public comment period and a brief update on the search for a new SEA Managing Director.

The Port of Seattle's October 2025 StART Meeting presentation outlines 31 near-term construction projects proposed under the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration has completed its environmental review and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact, clearing the way for the projects to move forward. The expansion plans are driven by projected regional population and passenger growth, with SEA expected to serve up to 66 million total passengers by 2034.

The Des Moines City Council Airport Advisory Committee met on September 8, 2025, discussing community outreach survey options, a update on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) presented at a recent City Council meeting, and an update on the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), a body focused on Sea-Tac Airport noise and related policy issues. The committee approved the previous meeting's minutes in a 3-0 vote. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for October 13, 2025, with agenda items including a StART representative appointment, citizens' complaints, and further SAMP updates.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Late Night Noise Limitation Program is a voluntary initiative that monitors aircraft takeoff and landing noise levels between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., comparing them against established decibel thresholds at four monitoring sites. Noise exceedances are tracked quarterly and airlines are notified when their flights exceed the limits. The program originated from community discussions in 2018 and has been in operation since Q3 2019, running alongside a Late Night Runway Use Agreement with the FAA.

The SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table has outlined shared policy priorities for the 2026 Washington State Legislative Session, addressing the challenges posed by growing operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key proposals include restoring funding for noise insulation programs, identifying additional regional airport capacity, improving air quality in nearby South King County communities, and advancing sustainable aviation fuel and clean transportation initiatives. The document reflects a joint effort by the Port of Seattle and near-airport communities to partner with state government on reducing noise, emissions, and congestion impacts.

Communities around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have outlined their top federal policy priorities for 2025/2026 to address growing aircraft noise and air emissions concerns. Key goals include passing legislation to fund repairs for failed home sound insulation packages, fully implementing noise and emissions provisions from the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, and investing in sustainable aviation fuels and alternative aircraft technologies. The group also plans a 2026 Washington D.C. fly-in to advocate directly with Congressional and Administration leaders for these community-driven reforms.