Date:
Friday, October 21, 2005
Contact:
Nisha Hanchinamani, WSDOT Aviation Communications, (360) 651-6310
In 2005, the Governor signed into law Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5121, which authorizes a long-term air transportation planning study for general aviation and commercial airports statewide. The legislation is also known as the Washington State Long-Term Air Transportation Study (LATS). The purpose of LATS is to understand what capacity currently exists in aviation facilities and what will be needed to meet future demand for air transportation. The bill requires WSDOT Aviation to conduct an airport capacity/facility assessment in phase one and a demand/market analysis in phase two. In the final phase the Governor will appoint an aviation planning council. The council will review the data and make recommendations to the Governor, Legislature, and Transportation Commission on how to best meet statewide commercial and general aviation capacity needs. The project will be funded primarily through Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants.
View enlarged map (.gif 76 kb)
Draft Services and Deliverables
LATS will require professional and technical specialists knowledgeable about aviation capacity, airspace, high-speed rail, and demand and market forecast analysis.
The initial project will include developing a detailed scope of work, work delivery plan and work program schedule to address the following:
A. Statewide airport capacity and facilities assessment. (Phase 1)
(1) The assessment must include a statewide analysis of existing airport facilities, and passenger and air cargo transportation capacity, regarding both commercial and general aviation; however, the primary focus of the assessment must be on commercial aviation. The assessment must at a minimum address the following issues:
(a) Existing airport facilities, both commercial and general aviation, including air side, land side, and airport service facilities;
(b) Existing air and airport capacity, including the number of annual passengers and air cargo operations;
(c) Existing airport services, including fixed based operator services, fuel services, and ground services; and
(d) Existing airspace capacity.
(2) Existing information, technical analyses, and other research may be used as appropriate.
(3) The statewide assessment is required to be submitted to the governor, appropriate standing committees of the legislature, the transportation commission, and regional transportation planning organizations by September 30, 2006.
B. Statewide airport capacity and facilities market forecast and analysis. (Phase II)
(1) The analysis must include a statewide needs analysis of airport facilities, passenger and air cargo transportation capacity, and demand and forecast market needs over the next twenty-five years with a more detailed analysis of the Puget Sound, southwest Washington, Spokane, and Tri-Cities regions. The analysis must address the forecasted needs of both commercial aviation and general aviation; however, the primary focus of the analysis must be on commercial aviation. The analysis must at a minimum address the following issues:
(a) A forecast of future airport facility needs based on passenger and air cargo operations and demand, airline planning, and a determination of aviation trends, demographic, geographic, and market factors that may affect future air travel demand;
(b) A determination of when the state's existing commercial service airports will reach their capacity;
(c) The factors that may affect future air travel and when capacity may be reached and in which location;
(d) The role of the state, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation planning organizations, the Federal Aviation Administration, and airport sponsors in addressing statewide airport facilities and capacity needs; and
(e) Whether the state, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation planning organizations, the Federal Aviation Administration, or airport sponsors have identified options for addressing long-range capacity needs at airports, or in regions, that will reach capacity before the year 2030.
(2) Existing information, technical analyses, and other research may be used as appropriate.
(3) The statewide airport capacity and facilities market analysis is required to be submitted to the governor, appropriate standing committees of the legislature, the transportation commission, and regional transportation planning organizations by July 1, 2007.
C. Provide meeting services and support resources to a 10-member governor appointed aviation planning council. (Phase 3)
(1) The aviation planning council is responsible for providing recommendations on how to best to meet the statewide commercial and general aviation air transportation needs in the state based on the findings of the assessment and analysis completed under A and B above, as determined by the council.
(2) The council shall determine which regions of the state are in need of improvement regarding the matching of existing, or projected, airport facilities, and the long-range capacity needs at airports within the region expected to reach capacity before the year 2030. After determining these areas, the council shall make recommendations regarding the placement of future commercial and general aviation airport facilities designed to meet the need for improved aviation planning in the region. The council shall include public input in making final recommendations.
(3) The council shall submit its recommendations to the governor, appropriate standing committees of the legislature, the transportation commission, and applicable regional transportation planning organizations.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2009.
D. Review and evaluate high-speed passenger transportation facilities and services including rail or magnetic levitation transportation systems, to connect airports as a means to more efficiently utilize airport capacity, as well as connect major population and activity centers.
(1) Existing information, technical analyses, and other research may be used as appropriate.
(2) The evaluation shall be coordinated with the airport capacity and facilities market analysis and completed by July 1, 2007.
E. Provide communication support and public outreach to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent information on the project to the public, aviation interests, and federal, state and local interests. The public outreach program shall also address documentation, consideration of and response to public comment, and public input during the aviation planning council process.
F. Develop and integrate general and commercial aviation system assessment and market data and analysis into an Airport System Plan On-line Access Database that is consistent with state and FAA needs and requirements.
Project Timeline
Project timelines are governed by ESSB 5121. They are as follows:
- Statewide airport capacity and facilities assessment, Phase I will be completed by September 30, 2006.
- Statewide airport capacity and facilities market forecast and analysis. Phase II will be completed by July 1, 2007.
- High-speed passenger transportation facilities and services evaluation. Phase III will be completed by July 1, 2007
- Airport Planning Council, report and recommendations, Phase IV will be completed by July 1, 2009.
Project Funding
A. Mostly funded through FAA grants.
B. Funding appropriations from the State have been allocated for Phases I and II for the 05-07 Biennium, ESSB 6091.
C. Funding appropriations for Phase III have not been allocated for the 07-09 Biennium.
Additional information
WSDOT Hosts Regional Technical Meetings for Long-term Air Transportation Study
WSDOT Invites Public to Comment on Communication Plan for Long-term Air Transportation Study
LATS Communication Plan (pdf 214 kb)
LATS Technical Committee (pdf 20 kb)
Evaluating Passenger Rail
June 2006 Newsletter (pdf 764 kb)
Project Manager Bio - Sonjia Murray
Consultant Selected for Statwide Aviation Capacity Study
Q and A
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