Yakima Still Hoping To Be Home of WA New Regional Airport

Could Yakima become a regional airport for the state of Washington? Yakima City officials are still hoping that's a possibility. Earlier this year Governor Jay Inslee signed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1791 (ESHB 1791) which created a new State Commercial Aviation Work Group and directs it to study the need for additional airport capacity in Washington.

THE NEW GROUP IS STILL CONSIDERING YAKIMA

The new work group is scheduled to make its first annual report by July 2024.
A press release from the city of Yakima says the bill "directs the work group to consider only existing airports for potential expansion to meet state and Puget Sound commercial air transportation needs." That's where city officials say the Yakima Air Terminal/McAllister Field is ideal to handle the overflow at Seatac Airport.

THE CITY STANDS BEHIND A LETTER THAT WAS SENT IN JANUARY

In fact in January city officials sent a letter to the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission making sure Yakima is on the list of airports being considered to help meet the needs of the state.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS FOR YAKIMA TO BE NAMED AS THE REGIONAL AIRPORT

The letter sent to state officials lists benefits for Yakima as the site for a new regional airport location;
Ample land within a 5-mile radius of the airport for developing long-term parking, rental cars, hotels and other industrial/commercial uses
Completion of an environmental review for a planned new terminal at YKM
Yakima’s easy access to Interstate 82, Interstate 90 and commercial rail
YKM was previously identified by WSDOT as a beta test site for electric aviation

YAKIMA VOLUNTEERED TO BE THE REGIONAL LOCATION

“The Yakima airport has been refining a strategy to meet the air transportation needs,” says Yakima Airport Director Rob Hodgman. “Yakima continues to be the only community to volunteer to provide additional aviation capacity.”

YAKIMA RESIDENTS WANT EXPANSION

The City of Yakima commissioned a poll in January to gauge community interest in airport expansion. That poll received 1,404 responses, with 83 percent strongly supporting expansion of YKM.

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