SEATTLE, WA  CH2M recently completed a groundbreaking Washington State Airport Investment Study to develop an understanding of the statewide 20-year airport capital infrastructure and preservation investment need, the associated gap between the need and projected funding, and viable solutions to address the state's portion of the need.

Working with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WashingtonDOT) and aviation stakeholders, CH2M leveraged their knowledge of airport funding (traditional and alternative) resources, airport system planning, and project prioritization strategies to determine potential consequences for continuing to underfund the capital preservation and infrastructure needs of the state's 134 public use airports.  

In addition, CH2M developed an Airport Investment Study Solutions Handbook (with CDM-Smith providing economic analyses), to identify real and feasible solutions to help address the state's funding gap.

The handbook:

Identified 33 initial solutions that included both new and revised existing funding programs and sources, as well as ways to reduce costs for the 20-year need.
Analyzed 10 top solutions to better improve definition, understand potential outcomes, identify risks and challenges, uncover potential variations, and highlight possible implementation strategies and timelines.
Compared 10 top solutions to understand relative benefits, impacts to industry, and potential stakeholder support.

"The solutions offered in the handbook are tools we can consider using in the future to implement realistic strategies to take on the airport investment-funding gap in our state," said WashingtonDOT Director of Aviation Tristan Atkins. "Our CH2M aviation team is honored to be helping WashingtonDOT and the state's airports position for future growth through sustainable investment options."