Arlington-based DOT aviation division moving south

ARLINGTON — The state Department of Transportation plans to relocate its aviation division by the end of the month.

WSDOT Aviation has been headquartered in Arlington for about 12 years, the past five at Arlington Municipal Airport.

The office is moving to Olympia Regional Airport to save money and be closer to other state offices, said Nisha Marvel, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.

WSDOT Aviation moved to Arlington from Seattle’s Boeing Field in 2002, seeking lower costs and a location that was closer to aviation events and expertise.

“Arlington has a great general aviation community,” Marvel said. “After being here for a while, we just saw the opportunity to move to Olympia and be closer to other offices.”

The state’s lease with the city of Arlington ends Sept. 30. The department began looking at other locations several years ago under a mandate from the state secretary of transportation to cut costs, according to a 2011 report. Officials considered four options for the aviation headquarters: stay in Arlington, move to Olympia, return to King County or split the office between Arlington and Olympia. The King County and split-offices options were quickly ruled out, based on price and space needs.

A state study evaluated the remaining choices, and Olympia edged out Arlington. Olympia ranked higher on long-term savings, future staff recruitment and coordination with other state offices. Arlington was rated better for short-term savings, employee retention and the quality of office, storage and parking space.

The state Aviation Division will lease 4,596 square feet at the Olympia airport in Tumwater for $5,362 a month. It currently leases 4,440 square feet in Arlington for $7,703 a month.

Today the Aviation Division shares a building with the Arlington Municipal Airport office and the city’s community development department. The airport plans to put the space up for lease again, airport manager Dave Ryan said. It’s a large area in a fairly new building. Search-and-rescue crews used it to stage air operations after the Oso mudslide.

The facility was built about five years ago in part to accommodate the Department of Transportation, Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert said. The airport was looking to expand its main office and worked with WSDOT to create a space that would also work for the Aviation Division. The city owns the building and hopes to find a new tenant soon, Tolbert said.

“We were really hoping (the Department of Transportation) would be a partner here for a long time, but as we know, things in this world change,” she said. “We’re sorry to see them go, but we understand the business decision they have to make.”

With services like aircraft registration and grant applications online, Tolbert does not expect the move to be much of a hassle for pilots. There won’t be any reduction in services, just a new way of doing them, she said.

WSDOT Aviation handles aircraft registration, airport grants and investments, and land use planning for public airports around the state. The division also manages 16 airports, Marvel said. Neither the Arlington nor Olympia airport is state-operated.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

The Washington State University Snohomish County Extension building at McCollum Park is located in an area Snohomish County is considering for the location of the Farm and Food Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Year-round indoor farmers market inches closer to reality near Mill Creek

The Snohomish County Farm and Food Center received $5 million in federal funding. The county hopes to begin building in 2026.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.