Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA
MEMORANDUM
Item No.
10b
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
March 26, 2024
DATE : March 18, 2024
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Eileen Francisco, Director Aviation Project Management
Keri Stephens, Director Aviation Facility and Capital Program
SUBJECT: Taxiway A Recircuiting (CIP# C801303)
Amount of this request:
$39,205,000
Total estimated project cost:
$39,500,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to (1) authorize final design and
preparation of construction bid documents; (2) advertise, award, and execute a major public
works construction contract; (3) procure long lead material items; (4) include a Project Labor
Agreement for the contract; (5) authorize use of Port crews for abatement work for Taxiway A
Circuit Replacement project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Total request for this action is $39,205,000. The total project cost is estimated at $39,500,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This project will replace Taxiway A’s centerline lighting conduit, cabling, lighting, and supporting
infrastructure. Taxiway A, on the North side of the airfield, is part of the dual Taxiway A/B system
that permits access of aircrafts to the North side of the Runways. Taxiway A is vital to efficient
operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Taxiways are required by Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) to have functioning centerline lighting for pilots to follow to ensure safe
passage. Taxiway A’s centerline lighting have exhibited signs of failure compounded by the
conduit underneath corroding, requiring replacement of the conduit and the pavement above.
Furthermore, replacing lighting fixtures with Light Emitting Diode (LED) will creating savings on
electrical demand.
JUSTIFICATION
Taxiway A is a critical part of efficient operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. FAA
requires centerline lighting for safe transiting of aircraft during periods of low visibility. Taxiway
A centerline lighting is 30 years old, nearing the end of its useful life, costly to maintain, and in
need of replacement. This project replaces the entirety of Taxiway A centerline lighting, changing
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __10b__ Page 2 of 5
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
the system to be more energy efficient and installs more resilient infrastructure that meets
modern standards.
Certain construction materials and equipment may have lead time exceeding standard contractor
mobilization time frames. The project staff has done an initial analysis on items that might be
long lead, which could potentially include but is not limited to taxiway centerline lighting fixtures,
transformers, constant current regulators, base cans, taxiway guidance signs, and handholes.
Further analysis will be conducted as design progresses to verify the needs of owner
furnished/contractor installed (OFCI) items. Early procurement of long lead items will help
maintain the construction schedule starting in Q1 through Q4 2025.
Diversity in Contracting
The design services contract (P-00320176) includes a 17.30% Women and Minority Business
Enterprise (WMBE) participation requirement and is currently trending below the requirement.
However, the Service Directive (SD) and associated Modification for this project are estimated to
provide 22% utilization, which will help the overall Service Agreement utilization. The project
staff will stay in close coordination with Diversity in Contracting Department to identify and
include a WMBE goal in the procurement of the construction contract.
DETAILS
This project will be constructed in conjunction with the 2025 scope elements of the 2021-2025
Airfield Pavement and Supporting Infrastructure Replacement Program (CIP# C800930) and
Airfield Utility Improvement Program (CIP# C801177). These projects have overlapping work
areas and design functionality, interdependent operational impacts, and share 2025 schedule
milestones. As such they are being planned, designed, and phased to be delivered concurrently
for purposes of Airfield safety, efficiency, and minimization of operational impacts.
These projects will interface with other projects and airline operations. Continual coordination
with Airport Operations, the FAA, Airlines, and related Tenants will ensure the least possible
operational impact during construction.
A project labor agreement will be used for these projects based on the importance of labor
continuity and the need to minimize any risk of impact to operations during construction.
Scope of Work
This project replaces centerline lighting circuit of Taxiway A, including:
(1) Centerline lighting fixtures, replacing incandescent with LED.
(2) Centerline lighting base cans.
(3) Circuit cables.
(4) Conduit.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __10b__ Page 3 of 5
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
(5) Concrete panels along centerline.
(6) New constant current regulators.
Schedule
Activity
Design start
Construction start
In-use date
Cost Breakdown
This Request
Total Project
Design
$6,282,000
$6,577,000
Construction
$30,527,000
$30,527,000
Sales Tax
$2,396,000
$2,396,000
Total
$39,205,000
$39,500,000
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Reconstruct Taxiway A circuit over several construction seasons.
Cost Implications: $62,722,000
Pros:
(1) Taxiway A centerline lighting circuit still gets reconstructed.
(2) Less capital expenditures in 2024 and 2025.
(3) Dividing the work into several years allows easier phasing during peak seasons with less
operational impacts in 2024 and 2025.
Cons:
(1) Higher overall cost.
(2) Prolongs the risk of an emergency lighting system failure and not in compliance with
FAA requirements for safe operations at Taxiway A and access to the Runways.
(3) Operational impacts in 2026 and beyond.
This is not the recommended alternative.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __10b__ Page 4 of 5
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Alternative 2 – Status Quo
Cost Implications: $0
Pros:
(1) No capital expenditure in 2024 or 2025.
(2) No operational impacts due to construction from this project.
Cons:
(1) Risks of not in compliance with FAA requirements for safe operations at Taxiway A and
access to the Runways.
(2) Large, unplanned operational impacts from emergency lighting system failure.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 3 – Reconstruct Taxiway A project in one construction season.
Cost Implications: $39,500,000
Pros:
(1) Ensure compliance with FAA requirements and safe operations at Taxiway A and
access to the Runways.
(2) Create more sustainable airfield infrastructure with lower demand LED bulbs resulting
in cost savings and environmental benefits.
(3) Install PVC conduit, which is more resilient and less brittle with a longer service life. It
also allows Maintenance to trouble shoot and replace aging and failing cables, both
under normal operations, and in an emergency.
Cons:
(1) Operational impacts during construction.
(2) Taxiway A relocation is a near term Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) project. The
final product of this construction would be demolished if the new Taxiway A is built as
part of SAMP.
(3) Expenditures in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$39,500,000
$0
$39,500,000
Current change
($90,000)
$90,000
0
Revised estimate
$39,410,000
$90,000
$39,500,000
AUTHORIZATION
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __10b__ Page 5 of 5
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Previous authorizations
$295,000
0
$295,000
Current request for authorization
$39,115,000
$90,000
$39,205,000
Total authorizations, including this request
$39,410,000
$90,000
$39,500,000
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$0
$0
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
This project was included in the 2024-2028 capital budget and plan of finance with a budget of
$39,500,000. The budget of $90K, for environmental remediation cost, was transferred from
capital to expense. The funding sources will be the Airport Development Fund and future revenue
bonds.
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis
$39,500,000
Business Unit (BU)
Airfield Movement Area
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
NOI after depreciation will increase due to inclusion of
capital (and operating) costs in airline rate base.
IRR/NPV (if relevant)
N/A
CPE Impact
$0.13 in 2027
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership)
The Taxiway A project will cause a decrease in annual operating & maintenance costs. This is
because the project will install more resilient LED lighting, which is easier to maintain as it has a
longer life than the current incandescent lighting. Furthermore, PVC conduit will be installed,
which makes cable pulling easier.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Presentation slides.
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
None.