Proposed Swap of Boeing Field for Railroad

Right-of-Way - Many Questions Remain

Although neither the Port Commission or the County Council has given approval, King County Executive Ron Sims & outgoing Port CEO Mic Dinsmore have signed a memorandum of understanding to proceed with a multi-party, multi-property swap that would turn over King County International Airport (Boeing Field) to the Port of Seattle.

RCAA, C.A.S.E., & other observers of the local aviation scene have serious reservations about the proposal, & are urging the Port Commission & the County Council to proceed with great caution. Unanswered questions are numerous.

Why would the County wish to give up a solid, revenue-generating enterprise in return for a former railroad right-of-way on the Eastside? Trails produce no revenue, but Boeing Field runs in the black. The property value of such a large piece of urban land is enormous both now and in the future. Why would the County want to give it away for a trail that would be worth much less?

Why is the Port involved? Is the Port in a better financial position to buy the right-of-way from Burlington Northern than the County is? If the County wants to buy property for a trail, why not just buy it?

Why would the Port of Seattle want to take on the management of another airport? What is in it for them? Revenues to be used to pay down their huge bonded indebtedness for expansion at Sea-Tac? If so, shouldn't that be paid off by Sea-Tac users instead of taking revenues that now benefit King County taxpayers? Or does the Port want to close the airport and play at land developer with the land?

How would the Port run Boeing Field? Would users continue enjoy the very-low fee & lease structures now in place? Or would the charges rise up to the levels of Sea-Tac? What new traffic would the Port bring into Boeing Field? What new noise would result? Which users would be displaced? If the Port can charge higher fees, why not the County?

And what will the County actually do with that old right-of-way?

What does Port property on Harbor Island mentioned in the literature promoting the plan have to do with this?

What does the County’s wish for a new regional intermodal site for solid-waste transport mentioned in the promotional literature have to do with the Airport?

How did prospective improvements for a different rail line at Stampede Pass, also mentioned in the promos, have anything to do with Boeing Field?

Who is paying for the fancy literature that is being passed out to promote this plan?

Is the Memorandum of Understanding a binding contract? If it is, by what authority did Mr Sims & Mr Dinsmore sign it? If it is not a binding contract, what is it? Why was it cooked up behind closed doors with zero input from the public or even the County Council and then announced after it was agreed to?