An Airport for Economic Growth

We have to increase our infrastructure so we can continue to grow. There are a lot of people north of Seattle, but the only airport with service by the real airlines is in Vancouver, BC, 140 miles away and in Canada.

Paine Field is the airport in Everett, Washington, 30 miles north of Seattle, where Boeing assembles all its wide bodies - 747, 767, 777 and the 787 is coming. It might be obvious that it has an adequate runway. So it is the natural candidate for more airline service. I would use it. It's about the same distance as Sea-Tac. But I would avoid going through Seattle. So I favor airline service there.

The Herald (Everett) reports "Paine Field debate continues"

Opponents stay on the defensive against any potential commercial passenger jet service, but one supporter says it's inevitable.

The potential for Paine Field to be opened to commercial air traffic may be lying fallow, but the debate is not.

While no formal proposal has been forwarded to expand service at the Snohomish County-run general aviation airport following its mention in county studies as an economic development tool, opponents remain on the offensive.

Greg Hauth, vice president of Save Our Communities, the Mukilteo-based group that has led the opposition to passenger air traffic, continues to make presentations to city councils about what the group sees as the drawbacks of the idea.

Since last summer, Hauth has visited council meetings in Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Woodway, Mill Creek, Marysville and Mukilteo, giving a presentation that outlines the reasons for the group's opposition.

Supporters of Paine Field expansion have been relatively quiet, but Hank Robinett, an Everett-based residential real estate developer, has voiced his support. He has not been shy about his belief that expansion would be good for the region's economy with little or no damage to surrounding communities.