Port of Seattle to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Land Exchange with WSDOT to Benefit Future SR 509 Expansion and Sea-Tac Airport Projects

The Port of Seattle will hold a public hearing to consider a proposed land exchange with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) during the regular meeting of the Port of Seattle Commission on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at 1p.m. in the Port Commission Chambers, 2711 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington.

The proposed deal involving land exchange and lease agreements would enable WSDOT to proceed with the process of the future extension of SR 509 to connect with I-5. The proposed deal will reduce the cost of completing improvements to the Northern Airport Expressway, allow the FAA to maintain the north approach lights for the Third Runway, and reduce the cost of future projects.

The land exchange would include nine properties currently owned by the Port transferred to WSDOT and three properties currently owned by WSDOT transferred to the Port along with rent credit toward three airspace leases needed by the Port for current and future Aviation projects.

In October 2007, the Commission authorized the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with WSDOT to negotiate the transfer of properties needed by WSDOT for the SR 509 extension in exchange for the properties and airspace leases needed by the Port for current and future Aviation projects. The proposed Property Exchange Agreement and Airspace leases will facilitate the accomplishment of the MOU's intent.

The nine Port-owned properties that are proposed to be declared surplused and transferred to WSDOT are located in the City of SeaTac, Washington: a 0.64 acre detention pond site lying at the intersection of South 170th Street and 8th Avenue South; a 0.02 acre remnant off South 188th Street; a 0.24 acre parcel at 1205 South 196th Street; four noncontiguous parcels (0.68, 18.76, 3.24, and 1.13 acres respectively) in the area bounded by South 196th Street, 14th Avenue South and South 200th Street in vicinity of Tyee Golf Course, two noncontiguous parcels (0.08 and 0.45 acres respectively) in the area bounded by 24th Avenue South, South 202nd Street and South 204th Street.