Another Sea-Tac runway closure

Local readers will have received the current (print) issue of the Highline Times, with its front-page story about the planned closure of the center runway at Sea-Tac Airport for two month (July & August) for some temporary repairs. Folks who do not see the Times can view this article on the paper's website. If the link doesn't work, here's the URL: http://www.highlinetimes.com/2010/04/22/news/third-runway-be-noisier-again-summer-second-runway-closed-repairs

The project bears an estimated cost of $5,650,000 -- we have more to say about that later in this post

This project caught the interested public by complete surprise. Neither the Times nor RCAA picked up this story when the Seattle Port Commission had the project on its agenda for 9 February. Oddly, the super-active PR office at the Port did not issue a press release on this interesting topic. (Critics will say that we shouldn't wait for the PR folks to serve up stories on silver salvers, & the critics will be right.)

The urgency of the project is not apparent, given that Airport staff have plans to rebuild the whole runway, stem to stern, in the relatively near future (2016). But safety concerns have been expressed, which tend to override all other considerations. A staff memo. describes the work as replacement of about 150 concrete panels. The runway has already been given a quick fix by way of re-sealing joints between panels (2008). As one has come to expect, no environmental assessment has been published for the current project.

Now about the cost:

First point -- The new budget of $5,650,00 is an increase of 146 percent over the 2008 estimate ($2,415,000). Sounds like a mini-micro version of the project creep (leap?) for the third runway. No engineering documents were submitted to the Commission to explain this increase, & we have no explanation to offer.

Second point: The actual construction costs are estimated at $4 million. Add some outside consultants' work & the sales tax ($485,000). What's left is $1,165,000 for administrative costs (Port staff, that is). One has to wonder, what's to administer? Folks with real-world business experience are invited to tell us whether this is a sensible cost, or whether it's gold-plated feather-bedding.

A final point: The construction staff state that having the runway closed for two months will not affect the pending Part 150 noise study, because "the noise contours will be based off of 2009 operations and fleet mix when all runways were operational". We wonder if the noise-study team agrees.

II-010-008D

II-010-052 (b)