Improvements Ok’d For Sea-Tac

Port of Seattle commissioners are gearing up for millions of dollars worth of proposed construction at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s terminal, designed to make it more user-friendly.

The projects include:

A food court with a three-story, semicircular glass wall with a view of aircraft taking off and landing, the Olympics and Mount Rainier in the background.

More shops and retail operations.

Consolidating redesigned security checkpoints so there are four instead of six, allowing travelers freer movement between concourses.

The commissioners on Tuesday authorized more than $5.2 million for design work on the projects.

The planned $34.2 million revamping of the central terminal will increase revenue by $1 million through added retail operations, said Mark Reis, general manager of the port’s commercial development operation.

Reducing the number of checkpoints - and the people who staff them - would save between $1 million and $1.4 million a year, Reis said.

In a separate but related project, commissioners authorized $1.9 million in design funds for a proposed $12.2 million overhaul of 60 airport restrooms - most of which have not been upgraded in 25 years or more. The design money includes funds for remodeling of two restrooms.