The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced that the Commercial Aviation Work Group will convene its first meeting of 2026 at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 25, located at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport in SeaTac. This marks the ninth convening overall for the group, which was created under state legislation to assess the long-term needs of the state’s commercial aviation and transportation infrastructure. In late 2025, the work group submitted its annual report to the Legislature. WSDOT Aviation Communications Manager Christina Crea shared the details in an official release dated February 12, 2026.

This meeting is being held in a hybrid format. Members of the public may attend in person or pre-register to join online via Zoom, and a live stream will also be available on TVW. Attendees—both in-person and virtual—will have a scheduled 30‑minute window to deliver public comments. Individuals are limited to two minutes each. In addition, public feedback may be submitted at any time online using the group’s contact form. WSDOT also notes that free, temporary internet access is available across the state for those without broadband, with locations listed on the state’s drive‑in Wi‑Fi hotspot map.

Importantly, the work group’s mission does not include selecting or siting a new airport. Instead, it focuses on evaluating potential expansions of existing facilities, multimodal transportation opportunities, and systems-level improvements adequately tailored to meet future demand. The group’s efforts are informed in part by the preceding Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission, which concluded its work in 2023 and delivered a final report on June 15 of that year.

Why this matters
The upcoming meeting provides an opportunity for Longview, Kelso, and Cowlitz County community members to contribute to discussion shaping Washington’s aviation infrastructure—notably, considering the intermodal and regional aspects that could affect service accessibility, environmental outcomes, and economic development in southwest Washington. Although SeaTac is geographically distant, the work group’s findings may impact statewide aviation planning, air cargo logistics, and transportation system integration that ultimately reach local airports and communities.

Those interested in participating should pre-register to attend virtually, consider planning for in-person attendance at the SeaTac venue, and share comments through the contact form ahead of or during the meeting. Subscribing to the work group’s email distribution list is also encouraged to receive future updates.