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After Years of Inaction, Legislature Passes Bill For Major Study of Statewide Airport Needs; State Department of Transportation Begins Work After years of inaction, the Legislature passed a bill, ESSB 5121, at the recent session, directing that the state conduct a statewide long-term air transportation study on general aviation and commercial airports. An initial allotment of $150,000 in State money is likely to be matched by an initial $450,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration, with the possibility of a second $450,000 from the FAA under discussion, according to John E. Shambaugh, aviation planner with the Aviation Division of the Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The bill provides that the initial phase of the study is to be completed by June 2006 – a very fast timeline for such projects. Much of the necessary work will be contracted out to consultants, & the Aviation Division is focusing on developing a scope of work for contractors, with requests for qualification (RFQs) from interested parties to be sought immediately. Selection of one or more consultants by August is scheduled, with a Technical Committee to assist in evaluations. The statute directs that the Governor appoint an aviation planning council, broadly representative of the various interests, including two members of the general public “with special knowledge or background in airport issues” (which we take to mean folks who have been active in airport-concern groups). The Governor is working on this mandate, according to her office for Boards and Commissions, & applications are currently being accepted from interested persons. Applications should be submitted to Office of the Governor |
“Summary: Statewide Application form to become a planning council member [.pdf] Nomination form to nominate someone else to be a board member [.pdf]
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Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33) said that this was her “personal favorite” piece of legislation (in a session in which a number of her proposals were enacted). An RCAA spokesman said, “At last! Too bad this wasn't done a decade ago, in time to keep Sea-Tac expansion under control.” 
