TagWSDOT(123)

Letter from Washington Democratic Delegation to SecDOT to fund Cascadia Bullet Train

The Washington Aviation System Plan is a 20-year statewide guide aimed at building a more integrated, multimodal air transportation network across Washington State. Signed by Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar, the plan highlights aviation's role as an economic driver, community connector, and environmental tool, citing benefits such as expanded travel options, improved emergency services, and reduced carbon emissions. It calls for collaboration among federal, state, local, and tribal governments, communities, and the aviation industry to meet the state's growing transportation needs.

South Access Road Section 4(f)

This document compiles frequently asked questions about Washington State's Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission (CACC), which is studying potential locations for a new commercial airport in the region. It covers how the Commission was formed, what studies have been used to evaluate possible sites, and how environmental concerns—such as impacts on aquifers, the Nisqually River watershed, and tribal treaty rights—factor into site selection. The CACC can only recommend a site to the State Legislature, which retains final authority over any next steps.

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.