King County International Airport briefs council on Vision 2045 and multi-year safety projects; GA runway rehab set for this year

King County International Airport Director John Parrott and Deputy Director David Decoto briefed the Government Accountability and Oversight Committee on Feb. 11 about ongoing capital projects, near-term maintenance and a long-term planning effort called Vision 2045.

Parrott and Decoto said tenants have been investing in the airport: Modern Aviation remodeled its terminal and added electric ground-support equipment, Sky Service completed an executive hangar remodel, and a major UPS-related investment described by the airport as more than $100 million will support the airport's Northwest gateway operations.

The airport27s immediate 2025 work includes rehabilitation of the general aviation runway, storm-drain and electrical repairs, and temporary closures of the main runway when necessary to complete adjacent work. Parrott also described perimeter and access work on Hardy Street to address unauthorized driving and safety concerns.

Longer-term priorities center on the "Bravo" relocation and safety project, which will be staged over several years and could last five to seven years because of project size and the federal funding environment. The Bravo project will likely be broken into packages for funding and construction that could include a new control tower, taxiway/taxiway relocation, runway work and property acquisition. Parrott said the control tower is an "absolute must," with the runway a close second.

Deputy Director David Decoto said Vision 2045 will formalize the airport27s 20-year plan and involve community input. He also identified a need to modernize the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station: FAA response standards have changed since the existing station was built, producing a requirement for a larger facility and additional resources.

Parrott said the airport plans to adjust its revenue model, which has historically emphasized land rent, by updating other rates and charges to spread costs more equitably among users. He said real estate services will complete appraisals for several ground leases expected for renewal in April. The airport also reported increased engagement through its roundtable advisory body, with tenants and community members participating in planning discussions.

Committee members asked about federal funding uncertainty for the Bravo project. Parrott said the Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged the project's safety need but the FAA is likely to package work into smaller funding-eligible segments (for example a tower package or ARFF package) rather than funding the entire program at once.

"The control tower is an absolute must. However, the runway is a close second," Parrott said when asked about project priorities.

Parrott and Decoto said the airport will return to the council for additional conversations on lease structures, tenant impacts and program phasing.

The briefing did not include formal actions by the committee; airport staff said they will continue community outreach and federal permitting and planning work for the multi-year projects.