Transportation

The Port and the Region | Creating Jobs, Stimulating Trade

A full container ship prepares to moor at one of the Port's four container terminals.

The Port and the Region

Moving freight and people is at the core of the Port’s mission to generate economic activity and jobs. The Port collaborates closely with its public and private partners to leverage infrastructure and transportation investments that contribute to the collective success the region.

A robust and efficient transportation system is vital to the Port’s business partners. System capacity and effective access to Port facilities are critical to creating jobs and and staying economically competitive. Companies and workers throughout the state depend on efficient transportation links to and from the Port to reach markets around the world.

Seattle’s Seaport is the 7th largest U.S. gateway for international trade valued at $40 billion per year. State exports such as apples, cherries, hay, onions, potatoes, forest products, aircraft parts and seafood are trucked in daily to the seaport or airport. More than 30 million passengers fly through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport every year and the Port’s cruise industry serves about 800,000 passengers annually.

The Port has identified three critical objectives to keep people and freight on the move:

• Ensure long-term effective access to airport and seaport facilities

• Provide access to future development projects

• Promote regional economic competitiveness and freight mobility

From the Alaskan Way Viaduct to the completion of State Route 509 near the airport and dozens of other local and regional transportation projects, the Port will continue work with the community and other partners to bolster the economy and reduce the affects of port related traffic.

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Creating Jobs, Stimulating Trade

The Freight Action Strategy for Seattle-Tacoma (FAST) Corridor Partnership, established in 1998, pursues funding for 25 high-priority projects for transportation improvements along the railroad mainline and truck corridors near Puget Sound ports between Everett and Tacoma. To date, 14 projects have been completed with additional projects underway.

FAST is a partnership of state, local and regional agencies, including Puget Sound ports, railroads and the trucking industry. Its goals are to improve mainline rail capacity and connectivity, eliminate roadway chokepoints where rail and arterial roads intersect, provide safe rail crossings in communities and establish reliable truck links between ports, rail yards and freight distribution centers. The Port has committed to contributing about $30 million to the program. To date, it has authorized about $14 million of contributions for FAST corridor partners' projects.

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