PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      7b 
STAFF BRIEFING 
Date of Meeting    January 27, 2015 
DATE:    January 7, 2015 
TO:     Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Mark Reis, Managing Director, Aviation Division 
Elizabeth Leavitt, Director, Aviation Planning and Environmental 
SUBJECT:  Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Planning Update 
SYNOPSIS 
This briefing provides an update on SAMP planning. With the draft airport activity forecast
complete, the planning team has developed and assessed several terminal expansion concepts
to meet long-term gate requirements. A few  of the better performing concepts for terminal
expansion are presented here in addition to potential landside and airside improvements that
will be refined and analyzed over the next several months to determine feasibility, operational
efficiency, and capacity benefits. A separate Commission briefing focused on cargo will be
scheduled for February or March and will incorporate the most current SAMP planning.
The Seattle region is in a period of rapid growth. The city of Seattle had the highest rate of
population growth of large U.S. cities in 2013 and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
(Airport) was the fastest growing large hub airport in the U.S. in 2014 (YTD through
October).  In addition to providing jobs in the local community, the Airport is a critical
regional and national asset connecting the region to the global economy. The Airport requires
adequate infrastructure to fulfill its mission as an economic engine and enable the region to
maintain its competitive edge. Due in large part to a strong regional economy and projected
slight decline in airfares over the long-term, airport activity is projected to reach 66 million
annual passengers and 540,000 annual aircraft operations by 2034. Strong near-term growth
and significant increases in peak hour aircraft operations, passenger volumes and vehicles on
the roadways presents formidable facilities planning challenges. 
Terminal expansion beyond approved projects will impact existing facilities such as
hardstands to accommodate passenger aircraft remain over night (RON), cargo, or aircraft
maintenance.  In order to meet long-term capacity requirements for these non-terminal
facilities, additional airfield-connected land will be required. Accommodating near- and longterm
demand also presents challenges on the airside and landside as increased peak hour
operations congest taxiways and on the landside vehicles queue to access the terminal drives
and parking facilities. 


Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
January 7, 2015 
Page 2 of 2 
BACKGROUND 
In September 2012, the Port Commission approved scope and budget for the creation of a
SAMP and in February 2014, increased the SAMP budget from $6,000,000 to $9,650,000 to
include planning support to advance project definition of the International Arrivals Facility
(IAF).   In October 2014, staff provided the Commission with an overview of the
comprehensive and rigorous process to develop the Airport's draft activity forecast, which is
now complete. Over approximately the next three months, the planning team will work with 
the Federal Aviation Administration on approval of the forecast, but is using the draft to
analyze facility requirements and evaluate development alternatives in an iterative process. 
The master plan process provides an opportunity to take a comprehensive assessment of
facilities capacity and forecasted demand over 5, 10, and 20 year timeframes. Airport master
plans are typically prepared approximately every 10 years. The last formal master plan for
the Airport was developed in the mid-1990s and was focused primarily on the third runway. 
Passenger activity has since grown by over 50% to an anticipated 37.5 million annual
passengers in 2014.
Airports can be described as a three-legged stool, balancing capacity between airside,
terminal, and landside areas of the airport. Overall airport system capacity is limited by the
pinch point of the area with the least capacity. Through alternatives development and
evaluation, the SAMP will culminate in a capital improvement program and plan of finance
that will deliver cost effective projects to remove pinch points and provide a high level of
service to airport customers. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
PowerPoint presentation 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
October 7, 2014 - Commission Briefing: Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Forecast and Facilities Challenges 
February 28, 2014 - Commission authorization to amend the existing Sustainable
Airport Master Plan (SAMP) service agreement with Leigh Fisher Associates for
IAF-related planning tasks for an increase of $3,650,000 and a new total contract
amount of $9,650,000. 
September 5, 2012 - Commission authorization for SAMP development and to
advertise and execute a contract for consulting services for the SAMP, with a total
estimated value of $6 million. 
August 14, 2012 - Commission deferred consideration of a request to approve
funding for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). 
June 26, 2012 - Commission Briefing: Terminal Development Challenges.