The long-contested idea of allowing commercial passenger flights from Paine Field took a major step forward Monday, after Snohomish County narrowly approved an agreement allowing a New York firm to start designs for building a regional terminal, our online news partner The Seattle Times reports.
By a 3 to 2 vote – Snohomish County Councilmembers Ken Klein, Dave Somers and Terry Ryan voting for and Brian Sullivan and Stephanie Wright voting against – the County Council on Monday approved a lease-option agreement with Propeller Airports. The company has three years to carry out the preliminary design work and environmental studies to obtain permits necessary to build a proposed two-gate passenger terminal.
Foes of the plan, which at full operation could support up to 16 regional flights a day, say they’ll keep fighting. The council’s approval is expected to activate a dormant federal lawsuit over the issue. Opponents sued the Federal Aviation Administration after that agency issued a report in 2012 clearing the way for commercial passenger flights out of Paine Field. A judge stayed the case last year until a valid proposal for a terminal came forward.
You can read the complete Times story here.
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