Airport Improvements

Current Projects


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Pierce County is currently conducting a Landside Planning Study for the Tacoma Narrows Airport. An airport master plan was completed in 2015. Since that time the Airport has experienced significant increases in aircraft operations and based aircraft demand. This study is updating the aviation demand forecast and preparing alternatives for developing the terminal area and vacant land.

The landside planning study will refine the 2015 Airport Master Plan with development concepts for the aprons, taxilanes, auto parking, and hangar areas. This study does NOT look at changes to the runway.

The project began in the Fall of 2019 and is expected to be completed in Fall of 2020. The online open house for this effort ended October 13, 2020. The input provided during the online open house will now be compiled and used to inform decisions.

This is a separate effort that is not associated with the Puget Sound Regional Council’s technical analysis study to provide a regional perspective for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties to identify and plan for future aviation needs.

Wildlife Hazard Assessment


The Wildlife Hazard Assessment will identify wildlife species and their numbers, locations, local movements, and daily and seasonal occurrences. The assessment will also identify and locate features on or near the airport that attract wildlife, describe wildlife hazards to aircraft operations, and recommend actions for reducing wildlife hazards to airport operations. The assessment started in October 2015.

Aeronautical Surveys


Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is leading a project to help the region's airports get ready for emerging aviation technology (NextGen). NextGen technologies will allow more aircraft to safely fly closer together on more direct routes, reducing delays and providing unprecedented benefits for the environment and the economy by reducing carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and noise. To successfully complete the NextGen Airspace Study for PSRC, aeronautical surveys are required.

Completed Projects



North Gate Work


The North Gate, also known as the G gate, was replaced in May 2015 with a 24-foot automated vehicle gate. This gate was fitted with a security keypad. The driveway was enlarged to accommodate the gate. The North Gate will be closed at all times. A gate card or code is required to access the gate.

New Access Gate


A new 20-foot double swing access gate was installed in May 2015 on the west side of the airport at 8th Street Northwest. Only Pierce County staff and emergency personnel have access to this locked gate. There won't be public access at this gate.

Supplemental Windcones


The north supplemental windcone and south supplemental windcone were reinstalled.

Airport Master Plan

 
The latest Master Plan Update for the Tacoma Narrows Airport has been completed. The previous airport master plan was completed in 2003 while the airport was owned by the City of Tacoma. The creation of a revised master plan - the first since Pierce County assumed ownership of the airport - commenced in late January 2013. The purpose of a master plan is to create a road map for anticipated airport development needs. The updated master plan was approved by the FAA in 2016.
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