The Port of Seattle commission last week lifted the moratorium on new project approval instituted in mid-January.
Under the moratorium, the commission refused to authorize new projects not essential for public health, safety or security until port staff demonstrated significant progress in key areas identified by a recent performance audit.
The commission will likely consider several projects in the coming weeks, most notably construction of a new rental car facility at the Sea-Tac International Airport.
Commissioners had identified five areas where progress was needed before projects would be approved: governance issues, particularly those concerning commission and executive authority; internal review processes; project management; professional ethics; and training for capital project personnel.
As demonstrated in the port's Audit Response Action Plan, several of the audit's 51 recommendations have already been implemented, and many more are well underway. Port staff provides a progress report to the commission twice a month during public session.
"The port commission believes that the organization has already made significant progress," said commission President John Creighton, "and we are on an aggressive schedule to accomplish all of the report's recommendations.
"The port is a crucial economic engine for our region, and I am pleased that we can begin moving forward on important projects for our airport and seaport. But we reserve the right to reinstate the moratorium if the reforms don't remain on track."
Commissioner Bill Bryant, who authored the motion, said, "The moratorium got the staff's attention and made sure they understood that the port's culture and policies needed to change.
"We've seen major, important changes over the last six weeks, so we can provisionally lift the moratorium; but if we don't see continued changes, we can impose it again."
Port of Seattle transportation facilities support nearly 200,000 jobs in the Puget Sound region and generate more than $12 billion in business revenue and $626 million in state and local taxes annually.
