Southwest Airlines wants to shift its operations from Sea-Tac Airport to Boeing Field. The result of this move would be an increase of between 100 and 200 additional flights a day over Seattle neighborhoods - or a plane every four to eight minutes, fifteen hours a day. We already have too much air traffic over Seattle. Boeing Field is an urban airport, surrounded by Seattle neighborhoods. We cannot allow for an unchecked escalation of airline noise in Seattle, or let Boeing Field turn into another Sea-Tac Airport.

Southwest recently unveiled its proposal to move its operations to Boeing Field. Proclaiming it "Christmas in July", the Airline spoke grandly of its shiny gift to us - paying for its own terminal and parking garage at Boeing Field.

What Southwest failed to mention are the other not-so-nice presents wrapped within this package it was giving us -noise, traffic, and taxes. Let's take a look at each.

Noise. Southwest's proposal would bring a new passenger plane flight path with 80 arrivals and landings a day over neighborhoods that today are relatively quiet. The noise over Magnolia, Beacon Hill, West Seattle, Queen Anne, Ballard, Fremont, Tukwila and Skyway will only grow over the years with additional passenger flights. Families that bought houses to avoid the Sea-Tac Flight Path will now be living under the new Boeing Field Flight Path.

The number of flights at Boeing Field, and therefore the noise, will only get worse. Other airlines, to stay competitive, would seek access to Boeing Field. Alaska Airlines has already stated that it would consider moving operations to Boeing Field, which could bring an additional 200 flights a day to the airfield.

Traffic. Southwest Airlines currently brings 25,000 flights into Sea-Tac annually, and carries two million passengers. Roads leading to Sea-Tac can accommodate this -SR 518 goes directly into the airport with easy connections to I-5, I-405, and SR 509. Sound Transit's light rail line to Sea-Tac will open by 2010.

Southwest's goal is to increase their business to more than 50,000 flights a year, and four million passengers. If Alaska and other carriers flock to Boeing Field, Seattle could see millions more vehicles going into the city.

Today it is difficult to drive to Boeing Field. A mix of urban streets serving the Georgetown residential neighborhood and the Duwamish industrial district surrounds the airport. Adding Southwest Airlines to Boeing Field will double the traffic in this part of Seattle. Without new direct freeway access ramps, these neighborhoods will choke on the traffic caused by the additional four million visitors a year.

Southwest's proposal stops short of offering to pay for road and transit improvements, which brings us to: Taxes. If Southwest is not paying for transportation and infrastructure improvements, then you, the taxpayer will. New freeway off-ramps, street improvements, and traffic signals will compete for scarce funds in a region with a multi-billion dollar backlog of current projects.

We will also need new, frequent bus service to Boeing Field. Currently there is no bus serving the terminal side of Boeing Field. New bus service to Boeing Field will compete for needed service in all Seattle neighborhoods. Sound Transit will not be able to run light rail to Boeing Field.

Southwest is the nation's richest airline. It should be able to compete on a level playing field at Sea-Tac Airport with the other airlines. King County should not give Southwest Airlines a huge competitive advantage by allowing them exclusive access to Boeing Field. We already have a commercial airport - it's called Sea-Tac. Opening up Boeing Field as a commercial airport for Southwest Airlines is a terrible idea.

Dwight Pelz is a King County Councilmember for District 5 and can be reached at 206-296-1005, or Dwight.pelz@metrokc.gov.