Based on inputs received in this open house, the Master Plan will advance into its final stages and will be transmitted to the FAA, the County Executive, and the County Council for final approval.
There are several important steps that will need to take place after the Master Plan is completed before any significant changes occur at Paine Field. Planning and design will follow for those projects that are identified in the Master Plan and needed in the next three to five years. Additional detailed planning, environment reviews, and potentially further community consultation will all be required. The Master Plan also identifies potential funding sources for the future capital needs of the airport over the next 20 years, and securing those funds is critical before any project can begin.
Gather community input
Revise and prepare final deliverables
Finalize with County and FAA
Paine Field Airport is vital to the quality of life and economic sustainability of Snohomish County’s residents. As our region continues to grow, we rely on a strategic framework, the Airport Master Plan, that guides development of the airport. To receive updates about the Airport master planning process, please sign up below.
As of 2018, Paine Field (PAE) supports 158,227 jobs and has a total economic impact/business revenue of $59.9 billion annually. It has the highest economic impact of any airport in the state of Washington.
The airport has two parallel runways for arrivals and departures: Runway 16L/34R serves general aviation aircraft, while the 9,010-foot-long Runway 16R/34L accommodates large jet aircraft, up to and including the largest aircraft in the world.
In its first 12 months of service, the privately-owned and operated commercial passenger terminal at PAE welcomed approximately 1 million passengers. These passengers were utilizing the 24 arrivals and 24 departures each day before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted air travel.
Paine Field serves an average of 315 aircraft operations per day (general aviation, Boeing, and commercial air service), and it is home to approximately 509 general aviation based aircraft.
During times of emergency, say an earthquake or other natural disaster, Paine Field provides much-needed transportation capacity and flexibility for government planners.
An Airport Master Plan is a long-range planning document that recommends a strategy for development of airport land and facilities. The plan’s goal is to prepare the county’s airport to support the needs of the future. The plan will also ensure the airport balances our economic, environmental, and social values.
The Master Plan is informed by Snohomish County residents, government agencies, chambers of commerce, civic groups, environmental organizations, business leaders, and others with an interest in the airport. The Master Plan will ultimately be approved by County Executive and the Snohomish County Council, and then submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for acceptance. The current Paine Field Master Plan was adopted by the Snohomish County Council on December 4, 2002 and accepted by the FAA on November 13, 2003.
Paine Field Airport, which is owned and operated by Snohomish County on behalf of its residents, values our community, and we need your input as we develop a plan for the coming decades. Public outreach will occur at key milestones during the project to enable the public to review and comment. In addition, this website will provide informational updates as the plan is developed and will include ways for the public to provide ongoing input.
Developing the Master Plan is a two-phase process that we expect to take two and a half years, if all goes according to plan, concluding in 2022.
Phase One, which began in 2020, includes information gathering and study. We’ll use the information we gather to develop options for how the airport can develop over the next 20 years. These ideas will be developed into preliminary alternatives and then we’ll determine requirements for those alternatives for consideration.
During Phase One, we’ll engage with the community through open houses as well as website updates and other information sharing.
During Phase Two, we’ll evaluate the preliminary alternatives and come up with a single preferred alternative. Once a preferred alternative has been identified, we’ll study environmental impacts, implementation scenarios, and projected finances for the alternative.
During this phase, we’ll also engage with the community through public meetings, post updates to this website, and host online open houses.
You can follow along with our progress by signing up for email updates.
There are three primary committees that will help develop the Master Plan: the Steering Committee, the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, and the Technical Committee.
The role of the Steering Committee is to guide Snohomish County’s goals and priorities for the airport and provide ongoing policy and strategic guidance throughout the Master Plan process. The Steering Committee includes members from Paine Field, the Port of Everett, and business leaders.
The Stakeholder Advisory Committee is an advisory committee comprised of key aviation stakeholders such as major tenants, local businesses, representatives from the community, and technical experts. Its purpose is to provide a venue for members to communicate issues of key interest and provide informed feedback regarding the purpose and scope of the Master Plan. The Stakeholder Advisory Committee represents a broad range of airport/aviation/community interests, and its members will have specific technical knowledge regarding the airport and/or community they serve.
The Technical Committee is comprised of senior airport staff and the consultant team. The committee’s primary role is to provide technical input and review of the various technical documents.
This website will share information and updates as the plan is developed, including invitations for public participation in online open houses. Please join our mailing list to receive updates.
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Paine Field Airport
3220 100th Street SW, Suite A
Everett, WA 98204
425-388-5125
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Community input helped shape the alternatives and alternative selection, and we are eager to hear your thoughts. Share your input on the preferred alternative, finance plan, or development plan here:
* Comment period is now closed.