For neighbors living around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), the sounds of aircraft taking off and landing can be disruptive. To minimize the noise impact and improve quality of life for airport neighbors, the Port of Seattle offers sound insulation for eligible properties including single-family homes, condos, apartments, and places of worship.
The Port Commission took an important next step this week to expand noise mitigation efforts in these communities, approving $40 million to begin the first phase of sound insulation construction for more than 215 apartment units in five apartment complexes located within SEA’s noise remedy boundary.
The Sound Insulation Program pace has accelerated to reduce noise impact in half the time of the initial 15-year program timeframe. Work is scheduled to be completed no later than 2026.
To date, the Port has completed nearly $300 million in sound reduction improvements for communities surrounding the airport, focusing on single-family homes and condominiums. Sound insulation near the airport is typically funded with approximately 80% in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and 20% funding from SEA Airport revenues. Completed work includes:
Am Phavong and her uncle have owned M&M Apartments, located 10 minutes from the airport in Burien, for over 20 years. The five-unit apartment complex lies directly under the flight path.
“It’s pretty loud,” said Phavong. “If a plane goes by when we’re standing outside having a conversation, we need to pause our conversation and let it pass by.”
She’s heard complaints from tenants over the years about the noise, but she didn’t think there was much she could do. Some tenants work the night shift and have trouble sleeping during the day with the frequent air traffic.
After learning about the Port’s Sound Insulation Program from neighbors, Phavong submitted an application for the apartments to be considered for sound insulation. A sound engineer hired by the Port recently came by to perform an acoustic test and confirmed their eligibility. Phavong’s building is in the phase one apartment group.
Qualifying and completing work through the Sound Insulation Program is a multi-step process that includes pre-testing, owner documentation, and professional design services to develop tailored noise reduction plans for individual properties before construction begins. The program team of specially-trained architects, engineers, construction managers, and acoustic specialists work together to plan and complete the sound insulation improvements.
For a home to be considered for the Sound Insulation Program, it must meet the following criteria:
Phavong said meeting the criteria means the quality of life for residents will improve, and that may mean long-term tenants for her.
“Our community is growing,” she said. “It is important for us to keep our community, and continue to grow and have a better place for both young generations and old generations.”
In June 2021, Port staff launched an outreach campaign to contact 90 remaining homeowners in the airport's noise remedy boundary who may be eligible for sound insulation. The goal was to reach all potentially eligible homes.
Efforts to increase awareness have resulted in more applications for assistance:
Part of this success is attributed to effective new outreach techniques like:
To ensure outreach to all members of the diverse community, the program worked with the Port’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI) to use data from the Equity Index tool, an interactive and data-driven map that displays a visual representation of social and environmental disparities in King County. An OEDI report included demographic data within the noise remedy boundary, and the top nine languages from the report were included in postcard communications. To reduce the amount of text on the postcard, the team focused on the top three languages in future mailings with expanded text.
When Maria moved into her house 10 years ago, the sounds and vibrations of airplanes taking off and landing quickly became a part of her daily and evening routine. Located just one-tenth of a mile fro...
Sound insulation modifications performed on single-family homes consist of the installation of Sound Transition Class (STC 44) rated windows and solid-core exterior doors. Modifications to ventilation...
The material on this page is for informational purposes only and does not supersede or replace the formal details provided by the Program Handbook. Please consult your Program Handbook or the Air...
The Port of Seattle Commission today approved the next steps in providing the first-ever sound insulation packages for more than 900 apartment units near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) as ...
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