Deal Reached On Tacoma Narrows Airport

By now you have probably heard that after years of trying to figure out what to do with the Tacoma Narrows Airport, the City of Tacoma and Pierce County have come very close to a deal that would transfer the airport (plus Madrona Links Golf Course) from the City to the County.

The County would pay $5 million in cash and assume the $800k commitment for a federal matching grant. The City would be able to pay off $3.2 million in outstanding loans and release itself from $8 million in additional investment.

The airport has long been a drain on the finances of the City, but closing the airport was not an option due to previous restrictions from the FAA. Estimates show that Pierce County can operate it more profitably than the City by combining operations with the Thun Field airport it operates in South Hill.

If the deal goes through and is approved by both councils, the airport will stay open and in public hands … giving rise once more to the hopes of Lear jets carrying rich golfers who want to play Chambers Bay. And, we might add, corporate executives of Russell who need a quicker airport than Sea-Tac.

Link to The News Tribune