State Sen. Jim McCune Pledges to Fight Proposed Expansion Airport

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In an Oct. 27 news release, state Sen. Jim McCune, R-Graham, announced he intends to fight the Commercial Aviation Coordination Commission’s (CACC) proposal to construct an airport at one of three locations being considered in Pierce or Thurston counties in the state Senate.

The expansion is aimed at easing the pressure on the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

“A six-mile-diameter airport in the heart of these areas would tear close-knit communities apart, destroy agricultural lands and devastate property values. It could even force some to sell their property for less than fair market value, at a time when rental costs and mortgage rates are rising, putting affordable housing out of reach,” McCune said in the release.

He added that the potential construction of the airport would require a lot of new infrastructure to accommodate it.



“Such a project would also mean new freeways, high-speed transit, hotels, restaurants and lots more. Any value created by this economic development would come at a very high price. It would fundamentally change the very nature of these rural communities, as well as further reduce affordability at a time of record inflation,” McCune said.

In his opinion, the only feasible and fair option is to add capacity to an existing airfield, the Paine Field, located near Everett.

CACC’s proposal came about after air traffic projections showed Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will soon outgrow its capacity.

The move comes after a letter, signed by the Thurston County Board of Commissioners and the mayors of Olympia, Yelm, Lacey, Rainier, Tumwater, Tenino and Bucoda, was sent to state Legislature earlier this month and voiced opposition to the expansion being built in Thurston County.