PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA             Item No.      5b 
Date of Meeting   February 14, 2012 

DATE:    February 6, 2012 
TO:     Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    John Christianson, General Manager Aviation Maintenance 
SUBJECT:  Purchase of Snow Removal Equipment (C800498) 
Amount of This Request: $2,000,000    Source of Funds: Airport Development Fund 
Est. State and Local Taxes: $175,000    Est. Construction Jobs Generated: N/A 
Total Project Cost: $2,000,000 
ACTION REQUESTED:
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to execute contracts for the
purchase of additional runway snow removal equipment at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
for a total authorization of $2,000,000.
SYNOPSIS:
This memorandum requests authorization for the Airport to acquire additional runway snow
removal equipment in order to achieve one-pass snow and ice control operations on the Airport's
westernmost runway (16R/34L). When completed, the purchase of the additional equipment will
increase runway availability and reduce departure delays during snow and ice control activities.
Port staff will operate this equipment during snow & ice control events.
BACKGROUND: 
Based on Alaska Airlines' request to improve runway snow-removal clearance times and in
order to minimize departure delays to the greatest extent possible during snow events, multiple
snow removal scenarios were reviewed with Alaska Airlines management representatives. On
September 16, 2011, Airport Operations and Airport Maintenance staff met with Alaska Airlines
Senior Management and finalized near-term action plans necessary to accomplish the stated and
shared objectives. In this meeting it was agreed that the Airport's current snow-removal program
of two dedicated runway removal teams, first implemented this past year, will continue for the
time being. It was also decided that layering in additional equipment in a measured manner was
the best approach.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
February 6, 2012 
Page 2 of 4 
This translates to an acquisition of just enough equipment to accomplish a one pass clearance
operation on Runway 16R/34L for the 2012/2013 snow and ice control season. It was estimated
that the total capital investment for the necessary additional equipment would be approximately 
$2 million dollars.
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION: 
The purchase of the additional pieces of snow removal equipment will improve the timeliness
and effectiveness of snow and ice control activities on the Airport's runways and taxiways.
Project Objectives: Purchase enough additional snow-removal equipment to accomplish a one
pass clearance operation on Runway 16R/34L with the newly formed "West Runway" snow
removal team.
PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK AND SCHEDULE: 
Scope of Work: 
Purchase four (4) runway snow plow and runway snow broom combination units for snow and
ice control at the Airport for a total authorization of $2,000,000. 
Schedule: 
Commission Authorization                   February 2012 
Specification Development                   February 2012 
Perform Acquisition Planning                  March 2012 
Bid Advertisement                       April 2012 
Receive Bids & Award Contract                June 2012 
Snow Equipment Delivered and in Service          November 2012 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: 
Budget/Authorization Summary 
Original Budget                                               $2,000,000 
Previous Authorizations                                                $0 
Current request for authorization                                       $2,000,000 
Total Authorizations, including this request                               $2,000,000 
Remaining budget to be authorized                                       $0 
Total Estimated Project Cost                                       $2,000,000 
Project Cost Breakdown 
Equipment Purchase                                         $1,825,000
State & Local Taxes (estimated)                                      $175,000 
Total                                                         $2,000,000

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
February 6, 2012 
Page 3 of 4 
Budget Status and Source of Funds: 
This project is included in the 2012-2016 capital budget and plan of finance as a buisness plan
prospective project within CIP #C800498. The funding source will be the Airport Development
Fund. 
Financial Analysis and Summary: 
CIP Category                   Renewal/Enhancement 
Project Type                    Customer Service 
Risk adjusted Discount rate           N/A 
Key risk factors                   N/A 
Project cost for analysis               $2,000,000 
Business Unit (BU)                 Airfield 
Effect on business performance         NOI after depreciation will increase 
IRR/NPV                  N/A 
CPE Impact                  CPE will increase by $.01 but no change to business
plan forecast as this project was included 
Lifecycle Cost and Savings:
This equipment will have an estimated working life of 20 years based on the annual usage
associated with snow and ice control efforts here at the Airport. Annual operations and
maintenance costs will increase in the fleet maintenance area due to having maintenance and 
repair responsibility associated with four (4) additional specialized pieces of snow-removal
equipment. The annual operations and maintenance cost increase is estimated at $13,170 with a
3% annual escalation.
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY: 
Equipment purchased will meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel efficiency standards. 
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: 
This project supports the Port-wide strategic objectives of Ensuring Airport and Seaport Vitality 
by providing equipment to keep the Airport operational during winter snow events.
BUSINESS PLAN OBJECTIVES: 
The primary business plan objective supported by this request is to operate a world-class
international airport by "ensuring safe and secure operations". It will also improve customer
service and reduce airline operating costs by avoiding delay costs.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
February 6, 2012 
Page 4 of 4 
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS:
Alternative 1) Continue with the current plan: The Sea-Tac Snow and Ice Control Plan, as
contained in the Airport Certification Manual, indicates that Runway 16C-34C, Runway 16L-
34L and associated entrance and exit taxiways at the arrival/departure thresholds receive the
highest priority snow removal. High speed taxiways serving those surfaces are the next highest
priority for removal, followed by secondary taxiways, ramp areas, and aircraft parking gates. The
current plan has Runway 16R-34L as a low priority removal surface. This is not the
recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2) East and West Team Concept: This alternative would result in having two
runways open simultaneously about 50% of the time and one runway open the other 50% of the
time. This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 3) One Team-One Pass Runway Removal Concept: This concept would deploy
sufficient equipment to remove snow from a runway in a one pass movement on the surface. An
additional taxiway removal team would be needed to work the confined areas related to taxiway
snow removal. The assumption is that this level of resources would result in the ability to
maintain two open runway surfaces at all times. The operational complexities and additional
safety risks associated with this option were determined to be higher than the dedicated two
removal teams. This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 4) Same as alternative 2; however, the West Team will focus on 16R-34L and have
enough equipment to accomplish snow removal on the west runway in a one pass operation
taking 20 minutes or less. This effort will require the purchase of four (4) additional pieces of
runway snow removal equipment. The estimated cost for the additional pieces of runway snow
removal equipment is estimated at $2 million dollars. This is the recommended alternative. 
OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST: 
None 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTION: 
On June 28, 2007, the Commission authorized the acquisition of five pieces of snow removal
equipment for the Airport to meet the operational and regulatory requirements associated with
the new third runway and its support taxiways for a total authorization of $1,900,000. This
equipment is still in use.