Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) and South Seattle Roundtable

Since 2020, Uncommon Bridges* has been facilitating and supporting the Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), which includes the Port of Seattle, the cities of SeaTac, Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Tukwila, Federal Way, Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Convened by the Port’s Aviation Managing Director, StART’s purpose is to facilitate communication and cooperation between the Port of Seattle and the communities surrounding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Uncommon Bridges facilitates the full StART meetings, which are public meetings attended by city managers, citizen representatives, port officials, airline representatives, federal agencies, and congressional staff members. We have also facilitated work groups on federal policy and aviation noise. The full StART meetings often draw 50+ participants, many of whom are there to voice their concerns about airport operations as they relate to their communities.

In addition to the StART work, Uncommon Bridges hosts the South Seattle Community Roundtable, which is a biannual town hall style meeting that convenes policymakers, advocates, community organizers representing underserved neighborhoods, government, and business leaders to discuss the impacts of noise and air pollution, master planning, and other environmental challenges for those communities under the SEA Airport and Boeing Field International flight paths. These conversations are dynamic discussions with over 50 stakeholders with the goal of building relationships, educating participants, and driving toward a common agenda. Uncommon Bridges also creates and sends out a monthly newsletter with educational updates and opportunities for involvement.

*This work was initially performed as BDS Planning & Urban Design.