Port Commission Funds Noise Insulation for Highline Schools

Commissioners approve $100 million in spending

(Seattle)--The Port of Seattle Commission today approved a detailed plan for spending $100 million to insulate schools in the Highline School District impacted by aircraft noise from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Today's decision is the framework for implementing of the Port's share of a landmark agreement between the district, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the state and the Port reached in May 2001. The plan calls for funding the insulation and repair of schools, ventilation improvements, bringing older buildings up to current code, and covering the cost of noise insulation in new buildings constructed under the district's capital facilities improvement plan.

"This is a great day for students and teachers in the Highline School District," said Bob Edwards, chair of the Port of Seattle Commission. "This is an historic and creative agreement by these organizations, doing the right thing for kids. Now we can get to work fixing schools and classrooms."

The Port's $50 million contribution will come from a combination of airport revenue and property tax dollars over a 10-year period," said Edwards.

The additional $50 million will come from the FAA in the form of noise mitigation grants. That money will pass through the Port according to the FAA's regular grant management procedure.

The state of Washington has provided $5 million as its 2002 contribution under the agreement. The district and Port will work together in the legislature to obtain comparable funding in future years.

"Although it funds the nuts and bolts of school construction, this agreement is really about kids," said Port of Seattle CEO Mic Dinsmore. "This is about creating an environment where we build not just buildings, but the next generation of leaders for our society."

"The Port of Seattle is particularly proud to be part of this long sought-after agreement. The partnership forged between the district and the Port as part of this agreement has been extremely rewarding. It's great to be working closely with our airport neighbors and we hope to continue that partnership on other issues that affect us," Dinsmore added.

Recent passage of the district's bond will provide $50 million toward non-noise related upgrades of the 15 schools most impacted by aircraft noise. Construction is expected to begin next year, with the district's schedule calling for work to be completed in 2011.

The Highline School District board of directors is scheduled to vote on this plan at its regular board meeting on April 24.

In addition to the school insulation program, the Port has spent more than $350 million in noise insulation for single-family homes and public buildings around the airport. The Port has proposed another $100 million in community noise mitigation work as part of a federally sponsored community-based program that made its recommendations last year.