PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      4c 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting     August 19, 2014 
DATE:    August 11, 2014 
TO:      Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Michael Ehl, Director, Airport Operations 
Nick Harrison, Senior Manager, Aviation Operations 
SUBJECT:  Cobus 3000 Airport Ramp Buses (CIP #C800714) 
Amount of This Request:        $1,820,000   Source of Funds:   Airport Development
Fund 
Est. Total Project Cost:          $1,820,000 
Est. State and Local Taxes:        $160,000 
Net Proceeds to the Port:             N/A 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to execute contracts for the
purchase of three Cobus 3000 Airport ramp buses for use at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
for a total authorization of $1,820,000. 
SYNOPSIS 
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is experiencing unprecedented growth in international air
service, registering a 10.2% increase in passengers in 2013, the second fastest growth rate in the
nation. Given the geographic location of Sea-Tac, the aggregate schedule of international arrivals
exceeds current widebody gate capacity during the peak time of 11 a.m.  2 p.m. daily. Due to a
shortage of international gates at the South Satellite and multiple airport-wide gate closures
during upcoming construction, hardstand operations are anticipated as a common practice, which
will involve busing passengers from remotely parked aircraft to the South Satellite for passport
and customs clearance. Purpose-built high-capacity buses are needed to carry passengers to and
from hardstands where aircraft will park when no gates are available for normal operation using
a passenger loading bridge. 
This project was not included in the 2014-2018 capital budget and plan of finance, as the full
extent of Delta's Seattle flight schedule was not known at the time of its development. The
budget will be transferred from the Aeronautical Allowance CIP #C800404 resulting in no net
change to the Airport capital budget. 


Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
August 11, 2014 
Page 2 of 5 
The purchase of dedicated ramp buses for these types of operations supports the Century Agenda
goal of doubling the number of international flights and destinations at the Airport and is a costeffective
way to meet the needs of increased international traffic. 
BACKGROUND 
The immediate justification for passenger busing is the shortage of widebody gates at the South
Satellite to accommodate international arrivals during the peak arrivals time. Eleven widebody
gates are available at the South Satellite to accommodate international arrivals. During the
summer months, current schedules show peak gate demand for international widebody gates at
the South Satellite facility to be: 
14 on Saturdays 
13 five days a week 
12 one day a week 
The situation could become even more acute if any passenger loading bridges are made unusable
because of mechanical failure or conflict with ramp activities. When passenger loading bridges
are not available for arriving internationals flights, airlines will likely need to unload passengers
at hardstands or at Concourse A and transport passengers in ramp buses to the South Satellite and
directly into the international corridor. Widebody aircraft can carry in excess of 300 passengers, 
including 1030 wheelchair passengers per flight. 
In addition to the international gate shortage, multiple domestic gate closures are expected at
Concourse A, the South Satellite and the North Satellite during construction of several upcoming
projects.  Hardstand operations will be needed with increasing frequency at least until the
completion of the International Arrivals Facility and the NorthSTAR projects. 
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND DETAILS 
Existing landside buses can be used to transport passengers across the airfield on an infrequent,
contingent basis, but the buses are not configured for high capacity or for quick loading and
unloading. Each COBUS 3000 holds over 100 passengers and has three sets of double doors on
each side and a shallow step up into the bus.  These buses are also more fuel efficient than any
buses in our current fleet and have a tighter turning radius, allowing for more precise movements
on the crowded airfield ramp. 
Project Objectives 
The objective of this project is to obtain special purpose airport buses for transporting passengers
safely and efficiently across the ramp during hardstand operations or other special circumstances. 
Scope of Work 
The scope of work for this project is to purchase three COBUS 3000 airport ramp buses with
diesel engines and brand them for use at the Airport.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
August 11, 2014 
Page 3 of 5 
Schedule 
Commission Authorization           August 2014 
Purchase Order Executed             September 2014 
COBUS 3000s delivered and in service    April 2015 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Budget/Authorization Summary              Capital     Expense   Total Project 
Original Budget                      $1,820,000          $0    $1,820,000 
Previous Authorizations                       $0          $0          $0 
Current request for authorization            $1,820,000          $0    $1,820,000 
Total Authorizations, including this request     $1,820,000          $0    $1,820,000 
Remaining budget to be authorized               $0          $0          $0 
Total Estimated Project Cost              $1,820,000          $0    $1,820,000 
Project Cost Breakdown                     This Request       Total Project 
Bus Procurement and Branding                  $1,660,000         $1,660,000 
Construction Management                         $0             $0 
Design                                       $0              $0 
Project Management                             $0             $0
Permitting                                      $0               $0 
State & Local Taxes (estimated)                   $160,000          $160,000 
Total                                     $1,820,000         $1,820,000 
Budget Status and Source of Funds 
The Airport Ramp Buses CIP #C800714 was not included in the 2014-2018 capital budget and
plan of finance. The budget will be transferred from the Aeronautical Allowance CIP #C800404
resulting in no net change to the Airport capital budget. The funding source for this project is the
Airport Development Fund. 
Financial Analysis and Summary 
CIP Category             Customer Service 
Project Type              Renewal and Enhancement 
Risk adjusted discount rate     N/A 
Key risk factors             N/A 
Project cost for analysis        $1,820,000 
Business Unit (BU)          Terminal Gates 
Effect on business performance  NOI after depreciation will increase 
IRR/NPV             N/A 
CPE Impact             CPE will increase $0.02 in 2016

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
August 11, 2014 
Page 4 of 5 
Lifecycle Cost and Savings 
Average annual O&M (labor, material, & fuel) costs for a bus (based on the current Gillig CNG
buses for Rental Car Facility (RCF) is estimated to be $33,479 each per year, or a yearly total of
$100,439 for all three new buses. These buses will be driven by current landside drivers so will
potentially result in additional labor costs but will not require additional FTE's in the budget. 
The expected useful life of a COBUS 3000 is 15 years. The financial analysis shows purchasing
these buses gives the Port better value than leasing. If the Port decides the buses are no longer
needed after NorthSTAR and the International Arrival Facility are complete, the buses should
maintain their resale value. 
STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES 
The purchase of dedicated ramp buses for these types of operations supports the Century Agenda
goal of doubling the number of international flights and destinations at the Airport and is a costeffective
way to meet the needs of increased international traffic. It also supports the Airport's
goal to facilitate/accommodate growth in international operations until the new International
Arrivals Facility is completed. 
TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE 
Economic Development 
This project allows the Airport to accommodate increased flight activity which has positive
economic benefits to the region.
Environmental Responsibility 
Alternative vehicle fuels (CNG and electricity) were investigated for the COBUS ramp bus
operations. An environmental benefits analysis indicated that use of an alternative fuel would
provide minimal advantages over standard clean diesel technology. In terms of greenhouse gas
emissions, the addition of three COBUS vehicles would increase Airport fleet emissions less
than 1 percent over an electric bus, and have marginal environmental impacts over using any of
the CNG buses currently in the Port's fleet. 
Community Benefits 
The airport experience is often considered the first impression of a region by visitors. Procuring
airport ramp buses allows the airport to offer an efficient and secure method of transporting
arriving international passengers in a fashion commonplace at many large international airports
around the world. This provides a far more favorable experience for passengers arriving in our
region than being held on board an aircraft to an undetermined amount of time. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1)  Do Nothing: Under this alternative, arriving international flights will have to
hold on the ramp until an international gate becomes available. This occurred 12 times in 2013

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
August 11, 2014 
Page 5 of 5 
and has occurred 9 times this year already, with hold times ranging from 1045 minutes each.
With increased international service beginning in 2014, this would likely happen several times
per week, with hold times extending even longer. Delays in deboarding cost the airlines in
missed connections  and jeopardize departure operations.  This is not the recommended
alternative. 
Alternative 2)  Restrict scheduling through the assignment of arrival slots. Becoming a slotrestricted
airport, where the airport controls when airlines are allowed to schedule flights, would
require Airline Airport Affairs Committee (AAAC) concurrence, significant changes to the
airline agreement and a lengthy process with the FAA. The AAAC has made it clear they would
not support this alternative, which would disadvantage some carriers and weaken open market
economics. This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 3)  Require "split operations": In this alternative, the airport requires airlines that
arrive at an international gate to tow aircraft to a non-international gate after passengers have
deplaned so that another aircraft can arrive at the international gate. It should be noted that Delta
Air Lines already splits several operations per day to Concourse A and therefore, gates may not
be available for further split operations when required. Furthermore, this option is not preferred
by the carriers as it involves risk when towing aircraft and disrupts turn activities such as fueling
and cargo unloading and loading that could potentially cause delays.  This is not the
recommended alternative. 
Alternative 4)  Bus passengers using employee parking or RCF buses already owned by the
Port:  The buses we currently own are not designed for ramp loading and unloading of
passengers. They can accommodate only approximately 35 people each trip, require passengers
to step up significantly from ramp level through a single load/unloading door and are already
dedicated to their intended operations. This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 5)  Provide specialized, dedicated ramp buses to transport passengers during
hardstand operations: This alternative is preferred because it provides dedicated equipment to
allow international operations to continue as scheduled without delay to passengers and ground
support activities. Ramp buses allow passengers to quickly and safely load and unload through
multiple sets of double doors with only a shallow step up into the bus. These buses comfortably
transport over 100 passengers (more than double employee and RCF buses) meaning less trips
across the ramp and less risk. These buses are also more fuel efficient than any buses in our
current fleet. This is the recommended alternative. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
None 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None