Two ironworkers shake hands after putting the final beam in place for Sea-Tac Airport’s consolidated rental car facility. The facility will open to the public on May 17.
SeaTac City Council members heard a presentation recently by Port commissioner John Creighton on the Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda. The agenda is the Port’s strategic plan for the next 25 years.
Creighton noted the Port celebrated its centennial last year.
The Port will be opening its new five-story consolidated rental car facility on May 17.
The commissioner said the Port plans to add 100,000 more Port-related jobs at Sea-Tac airport and its maritime division while reducing its environmental footprint. He noted that would mean a total of 300,00 Port-related jobs in the region.
At the airport, Creighton said the Port wants to triple its air cargo.
“We can’t do it unless we expand State Route 509,” Creighton noted.
The extension of SR 509 from South 188th Street to Interstate 5 has been stalled for over a decade.
The Port is also seeking to double international air travel going through Sea-Tac with the airport becoming the “Gateway of Choice” for foreign travel.
Deputy Mayor Mia Gregerson asked Creighton about ‘fair wage’ jobs at the Port.
Creighton replied that it is a “tricky issue” with longshoremen making very good wages while other jobs, primarily occupied by immigrants, are low paying.
He said there are “competitive issues” because airlines are still struggling with costs following the 9-11 attacks.
Gregerson observed that when city residents have low-paying jobs at the airport, SeaTac has to pick up the slack in human services costs.
