BILL REQ. #:  S-1649.3 

READ FIRST TIME 03/07/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to determining long-term air transportation needs; adding new sections to chapter 47.68 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 47.68 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The aviation division of the department of transportation shall conduct a statewide airport capacity and facilities assessment. The assessment must include a statewide analysis of existing airport facilities, and passenger and air cargo transportation capacity, regarding both commercial aviation and general aviation; however, the primary focus of the assessment must be on commercial aviation. The assessment must at a minimum address the following issues:
     (a) Existing airport facilities, both commercial and general aviation, including air side, land side, and airport service facilities;
     (b) Existing air and airport capacity, including the number of annual passengers and air cargo operations;
     (c) Existing airport services, including fixed based operator services, fuel services, and ground services; and
     (d) Existing airspace capacity.
     (2) The department shall consider existing information, technical analyses, and other research the department deems appropriate. The department may contract and consult with private independent professional and technical experts regarding the assessment.
     (3) The department shall submit the assessment to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, the governor, the transportation commission, and regional transportation planning organizations by July 1, 2006.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 47.68 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) After submitting the assessment under section 1 of this act, the aviation division of the department of transportation shall conduct a statewide airport capacity and facilities market analysis. The analysis must include a statewide needs analysis of airport facilities, passenger and air cargo transportation capacity, and demand and forecast market needs over the next twenty-five years with a more detailed analysis of the Puget Sound, southwest Washington, Spokane, and Tri-Cities regions. The analysis must address the forecasted needs of both commercial aviation and general aviation; however, the primary focus of the analysis must be on commercial aviation. The analysis must at a minimum address the following issues:
     (a) A forecast of future airport facility needs based on passenger and air cargo operations and demand, airline planning, and a determination of aviation trends, demographic, geographic, and market factors that may affect future air travel demand;
     (b) A determination of when the state's existing commercial service airports will reach their capacity;
     (c) The factors that may affect future air travel and when capacity may be reached and in which location;
     (d) The role of the state, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation planning organizations, the federal aviation administration, and airport sponsors in addressing statewide airport facilities and capacity needs; and
     (e) Whether the state, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation planning organizations, the federal aviation administration, or airport sponsors have identified options for addressing long-range capacity needs at airports, or in regions, that will reach capacity before the year 2030.
     (2) The department shall consider existing information, technical analyses, and other research the department deems appropriate. The department may contract and consult with private independent professional and technical experts regarding the analysis.
     (3) The department shall submit the analysis to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, the governor, the transportation commission, and regional transportation planning organizations by July 1, 2007.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 47.68 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Upon completion of both the statewide assessment and analysis required under sections 1 and 2 of this act, the governor shall appoint an aviation planning council to consist of the following members: (a) The director of the aviation division of the department of transportation, or a designee; (b) the director of the department of community, trade, and economic development, or a designee; (c) a member of the transportation commission, who shall be the chair of the council; (d) two members of the general public with special knowledge or background in airport issues; (e) a technical expert familiar with federal aviation administration airspace and control issues; (f) a commercial airport operator; (g) a member of a growth management hearings board; (h) a representative of the Washington airport management association; and (i) an airline representative. The chair of the council may designate another councilmember to serve as the acting chair in the absence of the chair. The department of transportation shall provide all administrative and staff support for the council.
     (2) The purpose of the council is to make recommendations, based on the findings of the assessment and analysis completed under sections 1 and 2 of this act, regarding how best to meet the statewide commercial and general aviation capacity needs, as determined by the council. The council shall determine 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 the year 2030. After determining these areas, the council shall make recommendations regarding the placement of future commercial and general aviation airport facilities designed to meet the need for improved aviation planning in the region.
     (3) The council shall submit its recommendations to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, the governor, the transportation commission, and applicable regional transportation planning organizations.
     (4) This section expires July 1, 2009.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2005, in the omnibus transportation appropriations act, this act is null and void.