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August 07, 2003
The Port of Seattle Commission today authorized the renewal of contracts with two major providers of ground transportation at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The contracts, with the Seattle Tacoma International Taxi Association (STITA) and Shuttle Express, will require the two organizations to make major investments to convert their fleets to clean-burning natural gas.
Under its new contract, STITA will be required to convert its entire 160-cab fleet to natural gas in the next three years. By converting more quickly, STITA will earn the right to extend the contract from five to seven years.
The Port's six-year contract with Shuttle Express requires that organization to be making 70% of its shuttle trips in natural gas-powered vehicles by the year 2006.
"This is a huge step forward in improving air quality around Sea-Tac and in the Puget Sound region generally," said Patricia Davis, President and Chair of the Port Commission. "These new contracts hold our vendors to a very aggressive schedule for the switch to natural gas."
"In addition to the positive environmental advantages, these contracts allow us to continue to provide our airport customers with good, reliable transportation and quality customer service," said Davis.
The contract with STITA also requires the Association to pursue efforts to be licensed both in the city of Seattle and in King County. The hope is that STITA cabs could eventually pick up fares downtown, reducing the number of empty cabs returning to the airport. Presently, STITA cabs are unable to pick up passengers in the city and must deadhead back to the airport.
"Beyond cleaner air and solid customer service, this contract has the potential to also reduce the number of vehicles on the road. That's a very good deal for the Port and the citizens of King County," Davis said.
Under the two contracts, the amount of airborne pollutants released by airport taxis and shuttles will be reduced by several tons annually.
"We are very excited to partner with the Port's clean air program and roll out our fleet of natural gas vehicles to improve air quality in the region," said Jimy Sherrell, President and CEO of Shuttle Express.
The new contracts do not bring the Port a great deal of additional revenue. Fees charged to the two companies are intended primarily to cover the Port's cost in supervising their operations.
"We're expecting these organizations to invest a great deal of money in their vehicles," said Gina Marie Lindsey, the Port's Managing Director of Aviation. "Our prime focus in negotiating these contracts was moving them in the right direction environmentally, not maximizing Port revenue."
In 2002, the Port opened the area's first publicly available natural gas refueling station for trucks and cars. The purpose was to have a convenient refueling facility available for companies that do business with the airport.
"It's appropriate for the Port to provide the infrastructure for our tenants to do right for the environment," Lindsey said. "We also hope that nearby cities and other local jurisdictions will consider converting their fleets, using our station as their refueling point."
Other contract changes include:
The contracts approved today by the Port Commission will go into effect on Sept. 1, 2003.