A rural site in Thurston County remains in the running for a new airport after a state commission altered its selection plans.
The Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission had planned to identify two sites for further study by Oct. 15 and select one preferred site by June 2023.
In a recent update, the state commission announced it has instead selected two options, rather than two sites, that were already under consideration: building a two-runway airport on a greenfield, or undeveloped, site in either Pierce or Thurston County, and adding capacity to Paine Field in Snohomish County.
With this change, the state commission has effectively opted to reorganize its options rather than remove proposals from their short list. The update says the commission will focus on community engagement and analyzing the proposed sites before narrowing the options by spring 2023.
The state legislature tasked the commission in 2019 with finding a site for a new airport to be constructed by 2040. Such an airport would help meet commercial and cargo demand as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport reaches capacity.
News of the proposals in Pierce and Thurston counties has drawn organized opposition from many local residents, elected officials and candidates during an election year. In Thurston County, the Board of Commissioners has remained steadfastly opposed to any new airport in the county.
The so-called “Thurston County Central” site still under consideration has been identified as a circular area that spans six-miles in diameter northeast of Tenino and southeast of Olympia.
Two sites in Pierce County also remain on the table. “Pierce County East” is area south of Graham that state Route 161 runs through. “Pierce County Central” is south of South Creek that includes where state Routes 702 and 7 meet.
The state commission narrowed a list of 10 greenfield sites to those three locations in Pierce and Thurston counties in September.
Expanding Paine Field gathered the most support during an open house hosted by the state commission from Aug. 15 to Sept. 11. A majority of respondents said they supported improving Paine Field to accommodate commercial passenger demand and air cargo needs as well.
As for the three greenfield sites, a majority of respondents to the open house opposed all of those proposals.
The state commission says it will focus on community feedback to the greenfield sites in the months ahead. The public can submit comments and questions about the proposals to CACC@wsdot.wa.gov.
