"Third Sea-Tac runway project gets $62 million - not $178 million requested"

Wednesday, July 21, 2004

Third runway project gets $62 million - not $178 million requested 
By Alex Fryer 
The Seattle (WA) Times


WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Federal Aviation Administration notified Congress
today that it would award an additional $61.9 million to the third
runway project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
 
In March, Sea-Tac officials came to Washington D.C. and asked for $178
million for the project, which is estimated to cost $1.1 billion. Much
of the bill will be paid by airlines. 

Executives from Alaska Airlines accompanied airport officials as they
lobbied Capitol Hill and the FAA. Opponents of the third runway wrote
letters to the FAA urging the agency not to grant any more money to the
controversial project. 

"We're thrilled with FAA's support, and extremely thankful to Sen. Patty
Murray," said Mark Reis, deputy managing director at Sea-Tac. "It's not
$178 million, but no other runway in the country has this level of
federal support." 

After years of environmental reviews and neighborhood complaints, the
third runway is expected to be completed in 2008.


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