TagWSDOT(129)

A March 2023 News Tribune article reports on the disappearance of pilot Rodney Collen, whose single-engine Cessna T182T went off radar shortly after departing Tacoma Narrows Airport on March 6, 2023, prompting a search near Queets, Washington. The article uses the incident as a starting point to examine Washington State's ranking as one of the top states for single-engine plane accidents, drawing on NTSB data showing the state ranks seventh nationally since 2012. Experts attribute the higher accident rate to challenging weather conditions and a robust aviation community, while noting that overall general aviation safety has improved nationwide over the past two decades.

Washington State's ESHB 1791 replaces the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission with a new Commercial Aviation Work Group tasked with studying the long-range commercial aviation needs of the state, including evaluating potential sites for new or expanded airports. The Work Group must consider environmental impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, and compatibility with military installations, while excluding expansion of airports in counties with populations of 2 million or more residents — effectively ruling out major expansion at Sea-Tac. The group is required to submit annual progress reports to the Governor and the Legislature's Transportation Committees.

A November 2022 WSDOT presentation by Construction Manager Andrey Chepel outlines progress on the SR 509 Completion Project, part of the broader Puget Sound Gateway Program in King County. The project aims to improve freight and passenger connections to the Port of Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport area by completing a long-planned highway extension. The presentation covers construction stages 1a and 1b, upcoming Stage 2 procurement, and community engagement efforts.

Draft MOU between Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Port of Seattle (Port) covering the SR 509 24th Avenue S/S 188th Street New Expressway Project (SR 509 Completion Project Stage 2), dated October 25, 2022 (Item 8d_attach). Documents design and construction commitments for project elements within Port property boundaries, including illumination and signalization (Starling

Commission Agenda Memorandum (Action Item 8d) from Eileen Francisco and Eric ffitch to Executive Director Stephen Metruck, dated October 18, 2022, requesting Port of Seattle Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WSDOT supporting Stage 2 of the SR 509 Completion Project as part of the Puget Sound

A 2022 Washington State report recommends a three-part strategy to address the region's projected 27 million annual passenger shortfall by 2050: expanding capacity at existing airports like Paine Field and Sea-Tac, and developing a new greenfield airport in Pierce or Thurston County. Sea-Tac is expected to remain the region's primary hub, optimizing capacity for passengers and freight through the 2030s under its Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The report also highlights the need to address harmful emissions and noise as part of an 'Airport of the Future' approach.

The Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission (CACC) held an online public engagement process in August–September 2022 to gather Washington state residents' input on potential new airport sites. Nearly 20,000 users participated, and majorities opposed all ten proposed 'greenfield' locations, citing concerns about environmental impacts, noise, farmland loss, and traffic. The most common feedback at virtual public meetings was opposition to the East King County site, with many participants also raising concerns about proximity to Sea-Tac Airport.