PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA                      Item No.        3b 
STAFF BRIEFING 
Date of Meeting    February 23, 2016 
DATE:      February 17, 2016 
TO:       Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Elizabeth Leavitt, Director, Aviation Planning and Environmental
Clare Gallagher, Senior Manager, Public Affairs 
SUBJECT:   Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Roundtable Forums

SYNOPSIS 
As the Port Commission begins a series of roundtables on topics related to Sea-Tac Airport's
master plan, this memo serves to provide a brief update on the current status of SAMP
planning.  Staff will continue to brief the Commission on a number of master plan areas in a
series  of  on-going  briefings,  seeking  guidance  from  the  Commission,  and  returning  to
Commission with the goal of narrowing the master plan alternatives to one or two alternatives
which will be carried forward into environmental review later in 2016. The purpose of the
Commission Roundtables, scheduled across separate commission meetings, will be to examine
issues  and  hear  from  representatives  in  various  fields  related  to  airport  growth  and
development. Four roundtables are proposed: beginning on February 23, a focus on the Airport
of the Future. Future roundtables will include Meeting the Needs of Airlines and the Traveling
Public; Working with Communities; and Environmental Sustainability and Growth.

SUMMARY OF SAMP PROGRESS 
The SAMP team has completed airside simulation modeling to assess the capacity of the
existing airfield and potential future capacity with identified capital improvements.  Modeling
determined that the airside will reach critical delay between 2029 and 2034 and that aprons for
holding aircraft (aircraft hold positions) are essential to keeping aircraft moving and reducing 
delay.
Using the results of the modeling, the team allocated land to facilities in key functional areas
based on a hierarchy of importance and the degree to which facility locations were driven by
function.
The SAMP team evaluated one and two terminal options across a range of criteria in the
following categories: cost, risk, flexibility, development (phasing & constructability) and level
of service both during and post construction.
The SAMP team identified a number of operational strategies and relatively low cost capital
projects that would be beneficial under a one or two terminal solution.

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
February 17, 2016 
Page 2 of 3 
The SAMP team is evaluating potential process and technology improvements that may
decrease terminal requirements and potentially redefine the one terminal option. Additional
work that will help shape alternatives and a future capital program includes: project phasing,
cost estimates, locating support facilities and more detailed planning to set the geometry of a
second terminal and supporting roadways. 
At the Commission's request, staff is organizing a series of roundtables around issues related to
airport growth and development, to provide broad context and background on regional interests
and the airport industry beyond Sea-Tac Airport. Presenters will include subject matter experts,
representative interests and Port staff.  Topics covered at the roundtable on February 23 will
include trends in airport growth and development; advances in passenger handling and facility
technology; airport master planning around the U.S.; air cargo trends; and regional economic
trends. 

BACKGROUND 
In September 2012, the Port Commission approved scope and budget of $6,000,000 for the
creation of a Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). Since October of 2014, staff has
briefed the Commission five times on SAMP planning progress, including: forecast results and
challenges associated with planning to accommodate forecast activity; and preliminary options
for terminal, landside and cargo development.
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 Sea-
Tac was developed in the mid-1990s and was focused primarily on the third runway. 
The primary objective of an airport master plan is to provide a roadmap for the phased
redevelopment/expansion of facilities, maintaining a balance of capacity in all key functional
areas.  Overall airport system capacity is limited by functional areas with the least capacity. 
Terminal and landside facilities are generally balanced to the fixed capacity of the airfield.
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
capacity pinch points, increase efficiency, integrate sustainability considerations, and provide a
high level of service to airport customers.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
February 17, 2016 
Page 3 of 3 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
None. Speaker material to follow. 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
January 26, 2016  Commission Briefing "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Planning Update" 
September 8, 2015 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Planning Update" 
April 28, 2015 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Planning Update" 
March 24, 2015 - Commission Briefing: "Briefing on Sea-Tac Cargo as part of the
Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)" 
January 27, 2015 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Planning Update" 
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 27, 2012 - Commission Briefing: "Terminal Development Challenges"