WSDOT asked to consider Yakima for new airport site

By Terry Murry on Thursday, January 5th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

YAKIMA – The Yakima City Council has approved a letter requesting the Washington State Department of Transportation to consider Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field as the new regional airport.

WSDOT has been searching for a place to build a new airport since its Commercial Aviation Coordinating Committee estimated Sea-Tac International Airport would reach capacity in 2050. CACC has until June 15 to recommend a new airport site.

The letter, which the Yakima City Council approved on Tuesday, states “Yakima provides an excellent option because of its central location with easy transportation access to the west and east sides of the state.”

The city of Yakima wants to hear from the public and has put an airport expansion survey on its website at https://www.yakimawa.gov/.

The CACC most recently has recommended either expanding Paine Field in Everett and assisting other airports to pursue regional commercial service or to develop a new airport either in Pierce County (with two suggested locations) or Thurston County. Both of those counties have objected to the plans.

Photo via city of Yakima