PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      6d 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting     August 9, 2016 
DATE:    August 1, 2016 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Mike Ehl, Director Airport Operations 
Peter Garlock, Chief Information Officer 
SUBJECT:  Airport Subway System Information Displays Improvement (CIP #C800782) 
Amount of This Request:        $2,570,000   Source of Funds:   Airport Development
Fund 
Est. Total Project Cost:          $2,570,000 
Est. State and Local Taxes:        $155,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to (1) proceed with the
Airport Subway  System Information Displays  Improvement project; (2) procure required
hardware, software, vendor services, and maintenance; and (3) use Port staff for implementation,
for a total project cost not to exceed $2,570,000. 
SYNOPSIS 
As passenger enplanements grow and the diversity of our customer base rises with the increase
in international travel, information about Port Satellite Transit System (STS) operations and
way-finding in multiple languages is critical for effective customer communication and the
efficient movement of travelers. The Airport Subway System Information Displays Improvement
project will procure and install a fully integrated digital signage system for inside STS subways
and outside in Airport subway stations capable of displaying variable messages in multiple
languages with video and graphics. 
This project will procure, via a competitive procurement, an information display system fully
integrated with our subways in the STS. Information & Communication Technology (ICT),
Aviation Maintenance, and Port Construction Services (PCS) resources will complete the
project. $2,200,000 in funding for this project was included in the 2016-2020 capital budget and
plan of finance. The remaining $370,000 for the capital funding will be transferred from the
aeronautical allowance CIP (C800404) to the project (C800782) resulting in no net change to the
Aviation Division capital budget. The budget increase is attributed to the inclusion of signage in
the subway stations, which was not originally in scope for project. 


Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
August 1, 2016 
Page 2 of 5 
BACKGROUND 
It is estimated that 50,000 people speaking 59 different languages are using the Port STS
subways daily. Many of these travelers are transferring between flights requiring them to find
their way to another gate, often on a different concourse. The most difficult connection to make,
particularly for non-English speakers, is a transfer between the North and South Satellites. 
The 21 Port STS subway cars and six subway stations are currently equipped with light-emitting
diode (LED) displays that present limited information on subway status, safety, and way finding.
This system was last updated in 2003 and has capability to hold up to five languages but display
only two at one time. 
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND DETAILS 
Good customer service is an important Airport strategy and clear way-finding, safety
information, and subway status have one of the biggest impacts on our traveling public. With
record increases in passengers expected in 2016, the efficient movement of passengers through
the airport becomes critical. Clear information in multiple languages will decrease the anxiety
and frustration of passengers using the Port subway system. 
Project Objectives 
Reduce confusion and lessen the anxiety of passengers using the Port subway system
by displaying clear way-finding, safety information, and subway status information in
multiple languages. 
Improve the efficiency of traveler movement as passenger volume increases 
Increase the flexibility and capacity of information displays to provide real-time,
relevant information to passengers. 
Scope of Work 
Procure and install a dynamic digital signage system for the STS subway cars and
subway stations. 
Install wireless access points at key subway  stations to ensure rapid updates of
information. 
Schedule 
Commission Approval                                   August 2016 
Procurement Complete                                   February 2017 
Project Complete                                        February 2018 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Budget/Authorization Summary              Capital     Expense   Total Project 
Original Budget                      $2,200,000          $0    $2,200,000 

Revised March 28, 2016  pjw

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
August 1, 2016 
Page 3 of 5 
Budget increase                        $370,000          $0     $370,000 
Revised budget                      $2,570,000          $0    $2,570,000 
Previous Authorizations                       $0          $0          $0 
Current request for authorization            $2,570,000          $0    $2,570,000 
Total Authorizations, including this request     $2,570,000          $0    $2,570,000 
Remaining budget to be authorized               $0          $0          $0 
Total Estimated Project Cost              $2,570,000          $0    $2,570,000 
Project Cost Breakdown                     This Request       Total Project 
Hardware/Software/Vendor Services              $1,700,000         $1,700,000 
ICT and Aviation Maintenance Labor               $118,000          $118,000 
Design                                   $115,000          $115,000 
Construction                                $582,000          $582,000
State & Local Taxes (estimated)                   $155,000          $155,000 
Total                                      $2,570,000         $2,570,000 
Budget Status and Source of Funds 
$2,200,000 in funding for this project was included in the 2016-2020 capital budget and plan of
finance. The remaining $370,000 for the capital funding will be transferred from the aeronautical
allowance CIP (C800404) to the project (C800782) resulting in no net change to the Aviation
Division capital budget. 
Financial Analysis and Summary 
CIP Category             Renewal/Enhancement 
Project Type              Technology 
Risk adjusted discount rate     N/A 
Key risk factors             N/A 
Project cost for analysis        $2,570,000 
Business Unit (BU)          Terminal Building 
Effect on business performance  N/A 
IRR/NPV             N/A 
CPE Impact             $. 02 
Lifecycle Cost and Savings 
Maintenance and support for this system is estimated to increase by $100,000 annually for the
software license and parts. This will be budgeted in the Aviation Maintenance Operating Budget
for 2018. 
STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES 
This project will support the following Century Agenda and Aviation Strategic Goals. 

Revised March 28, 2016  pjw

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
August 1, 2016 
Page 4 of 5 
Advance this region as a leading tourism destination and business gateway 
Meet the region's air transportation needs at Sea-Tac Airport for the next 25 years 
Position the Puget Sound region as a premier international logistics hub 
As passenger numbers grow and congestion increases, improvements in way-finding, safety
information, and subway status in multiple languages is an important customer service initiative
to alleviate anxiety and improve passenger flow. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1  Continue using LED displays 
Cost Implications: $0 
Pros: 
(1)  Capital costs of $2,570,000 can be allocated to other projects 
Cons: 
(1)  The system will not have the capacity to display additional languages, dynamic
messages, or robust way-finding that will help improve the traveler experience and
operational efficiencies. 
This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2  Replace the displays within the STS subway cars only. No new displays in
subway stations. 
Cost Implications: $2,000,000 
Pros: 
(1)  Capital costs of $570,000 can be allocated to other projects. 
(2)  The future master plan for way-finding and visual messaging may include some of
the content proposed for the subway station displays. If these displays are driven by
the subway information system, there may be design or capability gaps when a
larger Airport-wide system is deployed. 
Cons: 
(1)  There will be content on the subway station displays that would require integration
with the subway system. This could be lost if implemented with a third party
solution. 
(2)  The timeline for the master plan is unknown and could be several years to
implement. 
This is not the recommended alternative. 


Revised March 28, 2016  pjw

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
August 1, 2016 
Page 5 of 5 
Alternative 3  Procure and install a subway information system in the subways and subway 
stations 
Cost Implications: $2,570,000 
Pros: 
(1)  Variable messaging, multi-media displays integrated with the subway system will
provide valuable information to travelers on subway connections and way-finding
in multiple languages to more efficiently guide customers to their chosen
destination. 
(2)  The subway displays providing valuable customer service related information will
likely be available several years earlier than if waiting for the way-finding and
variable messaging master plan. 
Cons: 
(1) The future master plan for way-finding and visual messaging may include some of
the content proposed for the subway station displays. If these displays are driven by
the subway information system, there may be design or capability gaps when a larger
Airport-wide system is deployed. 
This is the recommended alternative. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
None 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
On June 14, 2016, Commission approved a project to expand the STS Subway 
Countdown Displays currently in the North Satellite subway stations to the South
Satellite and shuttle stations. This separate effort will replace existing LED displays 
also in the STS subway stations. Coordination between the two projects will occur to
ensure consistency in design and implementation. 






Revised March 28, 2016  pjw