Date:
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
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.
Three Phase Approach
The overall process will be consistent with FAA regulations and advisory circulars, state legislation (ESSB 5121), and state and regional transportation goals and policies. As mandated by ESSB 5121, the process will occur in three phases over the next three years:
PHASE I - WHAT WE HAVE
WSDOT will complete airport facility, passenger, air cargo and airspace inventory assessment.
PHASE II - WHAT WE NEED
WSDOT will complete an airport demand forecast and market analysis for the next 25 years. A passenger rail evaluation will also be conducted within this phase, but is funded separately.
PHASE III - HOW DO WE GET THERE?
Ten-member Governor appointed planning council will make recommendations for future statewide aviation needs.
Planning Process
LATS will study existing conditions, system dynamics, performance, trends and market factors within the Washington State System of Airports. The process will identify how the system meets current demand and what is needed to meet future air transportation demands regionally and statewide. Commercial aviation is a primary focus of the study.
• LATS will be integrated into the Washington Transportation Plan (WTP), the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), and regional and local transportation plans.
• LATS will cover Washington’s public use airports that contribute to the national transportation system, as well as those that serve statewide and local aviation needs. Washington State has 139 public use airports, and approximately 68 are within the NPIAS.
• The study will also include an examination of some of the airports bordering the state, such as Portland International and Vancouver B.C. to determine how they influence the overall statewide aviation system.
Benefits
• LATS recommendations and findings are intended to provide guidance on meeting future aviation needs and promoting the effective use of federal, state, regional, and local aviation resources necessary to develop an efficient network of airports.
• The study will assist in aligning federal, state, and regional objectives and priorities and help clarify airport sponsor objectives.
Public Outreach and Involvement
WSDOT is committed to providing and implementing an intensive outreach effort throughout LATS. To increase public awareness about the study, WSDOT plans to:
• Prevent surprises by actively engaging the public
• Minimize misperceptions about what the study is and what it is not
• Promote the use of the Web as the primary source of information
• Promote and document stakeholder/public involvement
• Engage public in decision making and gather concerns, questions and ideas
WSDOT will hold four regional coordination meetings in June 2006 to present information on the purpose and objectives of LATS and to gather data from participating airports. WSDOT will also actively seek RTPO / MPO (regional and metropolitan planning organizations) participation during their quarterly coordination meetings in February, May, August, and November 2006.
For more information on WSDOT’s public outreach and involvement objectives and strategies, please see the LATS Communication Plan at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/news/2005/AirTranspStudy/default.htm
Funding
Phases I and II of LATS are being funded primarily through the FAA:
• $900,000 - FAA
• $100,000 – state multimodal match
• $50,000 – state multimodal for rail study
Funding appropriations for Phase III have not been allocated for the 07-09 Biennium
Study Recommendations
Phase III requires a ten-member airport planning council to make recommendations based on the findings of the assessment and analysis conducted during Phases I and II. Recommendations include:
• How to best meet the statewide commercial and general aviation capacity needs.
• Determination of which regions of the state are in need of improvements regarding the matching of existing or projected airport facilities and long-range capacity needs at airports within the region expected to reach capacity before 2030.
• After making these determinations the council shall make recommendations regarding the placement of future commercial and general aviation airports designed to meet the need for improved aviation planning.
Contact Information
For more information on LATS please contact:
Nisha Hanchinamani
WSDOT Aviation Communications
(360) 651-6310
aviation@wsdot.wa.gov
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