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Local News 
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Fears over commercial air service at Paine Field dismissed EVERETT — Commercial airline service at Paine Field would not significantly increase noise in surrounding neighborhoods, nor would jet exhaust noticeably pollute the air or traffic clog the roads around the airport, according to a study released Friday.The 86-page study was conducted by consultants hired by Snohomish County in response to requests from two airlines last year to operate passenger flights from Paine Field. The airport, which primarily serves Boeing operations and smaller, private aircraft, is owned and operated by the county. Public hearings on the report are planned for early January. Horizon Airlines of Seattle has said it wants to fly four times a day to Portland, Ore., and twice per day to Spokane, using 75-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop airplanes on both routes. Allegiant Air of Las Vegas has said it plans to fly twice a week to Las Vegas, using 150-seat MD83 jet aircraft. The study was prepared based on the number of flights proposed by the airlines, said Peter Camp, who handles land-use issues for Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. The county was required to conduct an environmental assessment before the airport's certification can be changed to allow for commercial flights. Some Snohomish County elected officials have said they oppose commercial air service at Paine Field. Still, federal law obligates any airport operator that receives federal funds to negotiate in good faith to provide space to any airline that expresses an interest in using the airport. The $450,000 environmental study was funded by a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. For noise, the study uses an average 24-hour decibel level as the gauge. The federal government considers the 65-decibel level the threshold for effects that could require remedies, such as noise insulation programs. The study concludes that the area where noise would reach an average 65-decibel level would expand by four acres in 2010. That would not extend into nearby neighborhoods. By 2016, the 65-decibel footprint would grow to 17 acres larger than today, but still would not “encompass any residences, persons or other noise sensitive land uses or areas,” according to the study. Opponents of commercial air service at the airport say it would damage the quality of life in nearby neighborhoods with noise and pollution. The cities of Mukilteo, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Woodway have approved resolutions opposing passenger flights at the airport. Some of those opponents have said they would mount their defense against commercial flights during the public comment period on the study. Greg Hauth, president of Save Our Communities, the leading opposition group, said the group would save its observations for the comment period. “We highly encourage people to actively participate in the process and to get out for the public hearings when those are held in January,” Hauth said Friday. Others have pushed for commercial flights at Paine Field, citing convenience and potential economic benefit. Greg Tisdel, spokesman for the group Fly Paine Field, said Friday they would also hold off on commenting on the study. “We'll have something to say later,” he said. Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439, sheets@heraldnet.com. |
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COMMENTS
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I think no one will notice the additional air traffic with the 75-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop. They will not use the entire runway and will be up at an altitude by the end of the runway that noise will not be a factor. My only concern is ground traffic. How will it affect people going to work in the mornings? They will fly four times a day to Portland, Ore., and twice per day to Spokane. What time of day is this? I assume 2 flights in the morning to Portland and 1 flight to Spokane. Then the same at night. So that will at max level have 225 people + company support people (security, ticket takers, baggage hauler, etc...) to go through our streets to park or drop off people. Most likely, I assume, the the planes will most of the time be 50%-80% of capacity. So we are looking at 36-60 people being run through our streets, trying to make a flight. 100th street & airport way will be a busy intersection during peak periods.
Doug Hetrick | Dec 9, 2009 11:34 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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Hey folks, it’s an A-I-R-P-O-R-T. Some of the airliners are quieter than the General Aviation Aircraft. Take a single engine Bonanza against a Dash 7 or Dash 8 airliner and you won’t even know the Dash’s are in the area. I guarantee you, “You’ll know when the Bonanza takes off.
I’m sure noise abatement programs are in the works, as much as possible the aircraft will be directed over the sound.
And yes, I’m in the flight path (Left downwind for R/W 16) but I also live within earshot of I-5. I live near the freeway, I expect car noise, you live near the Airport expect aircraft noise, and you live near the ferry dock expect Ferry horns.
You can spend money on lawyers, run the county/city budget down with legal fees and postpone the inevitable but “It’s an Airport” where planes come to rest.
walter Lasher | Dec 6, 2009 1:41 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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Free markets! Yeah baby!
Mojojojo | Dec 6, 2009 4:53 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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I know, lets screw our neighoring cities from any voice on a regional airport.
Guess its easy to a be shoe in and a yes man for businesses and to be on the city council in Everett.
What, are there citizens of Everett too.
Richard Siegle | Dec 5, 2009 7:17 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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My guess is that the "consultants" doing the Paine Field "study" are directly related to the same "consultants" that concluded (and which the County bought) that locating a warehouse Costco operation on 19th Ave SE (near Silver Lake) would produce minimal impact on noise, traffic, pollution, and would not unduly impact the neighborhood or surrounding residential area. Have you been down around that area lately? What a bunch of gobblegook environmental study that was. Good grief! And now here we are AGAIN, being told "not to worry", everything is fine, impacts will be minimal, yadda, yadda, yadda. Trust us, we, and our consultants know what's best and what's good for you. Snohomish County is positioning themselves a NEW tax base in the event Boeing moves lock, stock, and barrel to South Carolina. That tax base will need to be ever expanding and that will inevitably result in full blown, 24 hour flight operations in and out of Paine Field. The initial proposal for "limited" operations is merely the camel's nose under the tent flap. Five years from now, nobody will remember the initial "limited" verbage - just like very few locals now remember the consultants "study" on the then proposed Costco facility on 19th Ave SE.
a johnson | Dec 5, 2009 2:07 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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This is indeed very good news. the idea of scheduled flights from Pain Field has benefits for all of Snohomish County in numerous ways. The very obvious potential for economic growth and stability for the same, is huge. Aircraft manufacturers are continually making quieter planes, leading to an even more sustainable future with this activity. Really can’t wait.
Glen Bachman | Dec 5, 2009 1:33 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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This is indeed very good news. the idea of scheduled flights from Pain Field has benefits for all of Snohomish County in numerous ways. The very obvious potential for economic growth and stability for the same, is huge. Aircraft manufacturers are continually making quieter planes, leading to an even more sustainable future with this activity. Really can’t wait.
Glen Bachman | Dec 5, 2009 1:32 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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Can't wait till they start the flights! Bout time. Wonder if all the whiners are complaining that Boeing built a new airplane that will be flying soon and will add more noise? If you don't like the noise of airplane's, here's a tip, don't move next to the airport...
roland ### | Dec 5, 2009 8:19 am | 3 replies | Request removal
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I was always told one must think before spitting. "Don't move next to the airport". There are 10's of thousands who already live next to the airport. Many have lived there before you were born. There are dozens of schools in the runway flight pattern and sometimes planes unfortunately crash. Think of the recent past. The study didn't consider environmental impacts such as pollution only noise.
This county is going to spend billions of dollars in RTA taxes, see your car taxes, to bringing Light Rail to Snohomish County in the next decade. Light Rail is already costing every tax payer $3000 an inch to build and more as inflation creeps up. You may think it is a good idea to spend millions more on an commercial flights today but you won't when you find your taxes are going to have to pay for the building of terminals, road improvements, security and a myrid of other costs. Oh, and don't forget the mitigation costs, millions and millions to those when they find the "study" isn't accurate. Fifty million went to Highline School District alone to mitigate noise in the schools near Sea Tac, millions more to surrounding homes. Were these costs expected during the construction of the third runway at Sea Tac? When Light Rail comes in all this expense will be for not. Many will jump on and fly out of Sea Tax where more flights will be available. When the few airlines who want to fly commercial from Paine Field can not compete it will be so long thanks for all the money you spent.
Who are the major promoters of the airport? They are already rich. They are the commercial real estate owners around the airport, the construction moguls who already have their fingers in the pie and bankers who are going to loan the money for the development. They aren't the average Joe tax payer. Check out the past articles in the Herald, Hank RObinett, Joe Pignataro who are these guys?
You maybe YAHOOing now but wait until the taxes hit your pocket book and you find you have been played once more for a sucker to feed the already wealthy.
Have a great Christmas
Steven Lay | Dec 05, 2009 9:09 am | Request removal
I am so with you! 100.00 round trips to Vegas on Allegaunt Air. If you dont have a fear of flying you're on your way baby! I would be worried if I was a Tulalip Board Member, all that potential revenue litteraly flying south.
Mike Flavin | Dec 05, 2009 11:33 am | Request removal
I think you are right on. The opposition is running out of reasons to stand on. The study proves there will be no adverse effect of noise or pollution. Now they are trying to use scare tactics: planes will fly over our schools, and crash. How many times have planes crashed into a residential area around SeaTac? Yeah, it happens all the time right? With Boeing eliminating jobs, we need the increase of employment that local passenger service will create. Paine Field is an asset that the county needs to maximize for jobs and revenue. Unless you've got a better idea for creating jobs in Snohomish County, because I'm not seeing it.
E B | Dec 05, 2009 11:52 am | Request removal
This city is so NIMBY that they stifle any infrastructure improvements. They don't want the Mukilteo ferry, they don't want commercial flights at Paine Field, they reject any tax increase to pay for anything, they constantly vote Republican...What should happen is the following:
Move the ferry to the Port of Everett so it can be closer to the Everett Station and I-5. Re-route all I-5 offramps that lead to Mukilteo so that the flow of traffic bypasses Mukilteo and goes directly to Everett and Paine Field. If the State can wall-off Mukilteo from the rest of Puget Sound, this city will get what they want, a quiet, sleepy, Republican enclave and the rest of us can get what we want, a huge increase in our tax base and revenues from all the increased traffic.
Anthony Vicari | Dec 5, 2009 10:36 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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