Seattle’s waterfront grand opening
Seattle’s working waterfront is the beating heart of our city. This month’s grand opening of the new Waterfront Park is the result of decades of work by many people. I’m proud of how the Port of Seattle was part of this effort.
The transformation of the waterfront marks a new chapter in Seattle’s history. To learn more about our contributions to the past and future of Seattle’s working waterfront, read the Seattle Times op-ed I recently co-authored with the Port’s executive director, Steve Metruck.
In it, we assert Seattle isn’t just a city with a port, we’re a port city. But today, more Seattleites than ever feel disconnected from the working waterfront — resulting in a growing affliction of "maritime blindness." To maintain our nautical heritage and the economic benefits of a strong maritime industry here, we’ll need to work closely with our partners in city, state, and federal governments.
This new waterfront is just the beginning. While we remain focused on creating good-paying maritime jobs, we continue to look for ways for community and commerce to coexist by helping create scenic bike and pedestrian paths as well as expanding waterfront parks that don’t conflict with maritime operations.
If you’re interested in learning more about the waterfront’s history, head over to Elliott Bay Book Company to purchase History Link’s latest book, “Where the City Meets the Sound.”
New bike paths at Pier 66 and Terminal 91
The Port’s bike path projects at Bell Harbor Cruise Terminal and Terminal 91, near Magnolia. highlight exactly the kinds of projects I’m talking about when it comes to striking that balance. Earlier this month, reporters came to Terminal 91 to view the demolition of what I’ve been referring to as the “bridge to nowhere” — a too-narrow, outdated pedestrian bridge. It took three years — far longer than it should have — to overcome BNSF’s resistance to this project. Thanks to the hard work of Port staff and our construction team, a new cycling path is slated to be complete by the end of this month. You can find more coverage of the project in the Seattle Times and on KIRO.
In August, I joined Mayor Bruce Harrell and other city officials to celebrate the completion of a new bike path in front of Pier 66 that will enable cyclists to bike along the waterfront safely — even while we have cruise ships loading and unloading goods and passengers.
I’m particularly proud of these mutually beneficial achievements, in light of conflicts that have occurred between bicyclists and industry in other parts of the city.
Learning how to make sustainable aviation fuel in the Tri-Cities
When it comes to the future of low-impact flight, eastern Washington is leading the way. Air travel contributes 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The fastest way to reduce this impact is to fly without fossil fuels. Local companies and Washington State University (WSU) have teamed up to advance the science of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
I had the chance to join a group of officials from the Port and economic development organizations here for a trip to the Tri-Cities, where we toured WSU’s lab and saw presentations from the companies involved in this effort. WSU’s researchers, together with talented entrepreneurs and established industry players, are doing what it takes to deliver SAF on a commercial scale.
At the heart of this effort is WSU’s Tri-Cities-based Sustainable Options for Aviation Research (SOAR) Lab, which provides cutting-edge testing to ensure SAF blends are safe, efficient, and compatible with today’s aircraft. A coalition of private and public partners — including the Port of Seattle — is fostering not just research capacity but also the supply chains, infrastructure, and policy support necessary to make the SAF we need to cut pollution in the aviation sector. They’re proving that sustainable fuel isn’t just a vision for the future — it’s an industry Washington is building today, with the potential to transform aviation around the world.
To continue our commitment to advancing the use of SAF, the Port has become a member of the recently formed Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Institute. The Institute is led by Snohomish County and supported by WSU, Boeing, Alaska Airline, Earth Finance, the Port, and others. This first-of-its-kind global initiative is focused on reducing the economy’s dependence on carbon-based fuels by accelerating SAF adoption through enhanced commercialization of innovative clean fuels solutions.
Pacific Ports Association Conference in Nanaimo, British Columbia
In August, I took a trip to Nanaimo, British Columbia for the Pacific Ports Association (PPA) 11th annual meeting where I learned about the innovative approaches ports are taking across the Pacific Rim to address the uncertainties associated with tariffs and other challenges facing the maritime industry.
I heard some fantastic speakers on a variety of topics. We talked about the ways ultra-modern terminals (including Seattle’s T5) are handling cargo. We discussed how autonomous vehicles are providing benefits for security and sustainability. And I learned more about the way shore power is changing the ferry industry for the better — something that Seattle is about to see a lot more of in the coming years. It was a fantastic forum for sharing some of the latest best practices and innovations that are driving our industry forward through uncertain times.
As you can see, I’ve stayed busy this summer but still found time to savor the sunshine.
Photo at top, clockwise from top left: Orcas heading north past Elliott Bay; with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Chairman Jaison Elkins at the opening of Pier 58’s Waterfront Park; new aquatic-themed playground at Pier 58
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