Date:  Monday, March 16, 2009

Contact: Nisha Marvel, WSDOT Aviation Communications, 360-651-6310

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reminds the public of two upcoming open houses for the Long-Term Air Transportation Study (LATS). Each open house provides the public with an opportunity to learn more about LATS and comment on the recently released draft alternative strategies (pdf 1 mb). The location of the Olympia open house has been changed to:

WSDOT Headquarters
310 Maple Park Avenue SE
Olympia WA
Commission Board Room
First floor (Entrance on west side of the building)
March 24, 2009
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

The Spokane open house will remain the same as previously announced:

Ramada Inn
8909 West Airport Drive
Spokane, WA
March 26, 2009
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

The Aviation Planning Council, with support from WSDOT, has developed these draft alternative strategies (pdf 1 mb) as part of LATS. Also available for public review is the Aviation System Plan Summary Report (pdf 4 mb), which presents the LATS key findings and policies upon which the alternative strategies are based.

The public comment period on the draft alternative strategies extends from March 4, 2009 – April 17, 2009. Please submit comments on or before April 17, 2009 to allow timely consideration of your issues and concerns by the Aviation Planning Council as it develops its final recommendations.

The Aviation Planning Council is a 10 member Council appointed by the Governor .The Council’s purpose is to use LATS Phases I and II findings, and include public input, to determine:

• How best to meet commercial and general aviation capacity needs.
• Which regions of the state are in need of improvement regarding the matching of existing, or projected, airport facilities and the long-range capacity needs at airports within the region expected to reach capacity before 2030.
• Recommendations regarding the placement of future commercial or general aviation facilities to meet the need for improved aviation planning in the region.

The Aviation Planning Council will consider public comments at its next scheduled meeting on May 7 in Seattle. This is the final meeting of the Aviation Planning Council.

The Council’s final recommendations will be submitted to the Governor, Washington State Legislature, and Washington State Transportation Commission by July 1, 2009 in accordance with Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5121.

For more information, visit the LATS Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/lats.

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