Sound Transit Construction Update

Sound Transit has begun work on the D to M street Track and Signal Project connecting Sounder trains from Tacoma Dome Station to Lakewood.

For the week of Dec. 29, 2010, to Jan. 5, 2011, you can expect to see on the D-to-M Streets Track and Signal Project:


• Trenching to install utilities down A Street to South 26th Street.

• Additional utility relocation work will follow at the corner of A Street and South 26th Street.

• After utility relocation work is complete, crews will begin making street improvements to A Street between South 26th and South 27th streets, which will become a future detour route when Pacific Avenue is temporarily closed.

During this work, traffic control will be set up along A and South 26th streets. Traffic will be maintained in both directions, and the northbound ramp to Interstate 5 will be maintained at all times.

As construction moves at a rapid pace, here is what you can expect during the month of January. These will include but are not limited to:

• Waterline work in the vicinity of Pacific Avenue, South 25th and South 27th streets in preparation for the closure and excavation of Pacific Avenue.

• Closure of A Street between South 26th and South 25th in mid- to late January 2011 until April 2011 for sewer line work.

• Traffic Signal work at various intersections in the project vicinity, in preparation for the Pacific Avenue Detour.

• Construction of a temporary eastbound (toward Pacific Avenue) detour bypass beside South Tacoma Way.

Beginning in January, Sound Transit will offer a monthly coffee hour. You are invited to stop in and learn about construction. Meetings will be the third Tuesday of every month from 8 to 9 a.m. at Leila’s Deli, 402 E. 26th St., Tacoma. Please feel free to join us at the next coffee hour on Tuesday, Jan. 18, or contact me with any questions at 206-370-5511 or erin.hunter@soundtransit.org. If you know others who would benefit from these electronic updates, please invite them to sign up at www.soundtransit.org/subscribe.

Drive Nice, Tacoma

The City of Tacoma, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and Washington State Department of Health want drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists to be aware of each other and share the road.

In a light and humorous way, the campaign, designed by Rusty George Creative strives to address a serious topic: vehicle-pedestian crashes. The goal was to make people stop and think about who else is using the road and how we can all avoid accidents by paying attention.

Fox News reported on the safety campaign here.

Construction continues on Pacific Ave.

Sound Transit has begun work on the D to M street Track and Signal Project connecting Sounder trains from Tacoma Dome Station to Lakewood.

For the weeks of Dec. 16-29, on the D-to-M Streets Track and Signal Project you can expect to see trenching across the intersection of A and South 26th streets. Crews will start from the north and work toward the south and construct the north half on Thursday, Dec. 16, and Friday, Dec. 17. No construction will take place over the weekend. The south half will then be constructed on Monday, Dec. 20, and Tuesday, Dec. 21. Both sides will be repaved and back to the existing roadway by end of day Tuesday, Dec. 21.

On Wednesday, Dec. 22, crews will move up to South 27th Street and begin working from south to north. Crews will be trenching east across A Street from South 27th Street and down A Street to South 26th Street. Parking spots on A Street between 26th and 27th Streets are closed starting today.

During this work, at least one lane of traffic in both directions will be maintained for traffic along South 26th and South 27th streets, the northbound ramp to Interstate 5 will be maintained at all times, and businesses are open for your patronage!

For more information on the D to M project visit Sound Transit’s website, http://www.soundtransit.org/x8955.xml

Spaceworks Tacoma accepting applications now through Jan. 17

Artists, artist groups and creative entrepreneurs can now apply for an opportunity to participate in Spaceworks Tacoma: Round 3. Spaceworks Tacoma is a joint initiative of the City of Tacoma, Shunpike, and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce to activate empty spaces with creative use.

“After the initial pilot, Spaceworks Tacoma has emerged as a successful program that turns a typically detrimental thing – vacant storefronts – into something we can use for positive change in Tacoma,” said City of Tacoma Arts Administrator Amy McBride. “Since July 2010, Spaceworks Tacoma has placed 34 artists or artist teams in 15 spaces around downtown Tacoma.”

There are currently three opportunities available in Spaceworks Tacoma: Round 3, and those selected will receive temporary no-cost or low-cost space, exposure and business consultation in exchange for creatively activating vacant spaces in downtown Tacoma beginning mid-March.

• Artscapes: Those selected for this opportunity would temporarily place visual art installations in interior window storefronts March 15 - July 1, 2011.

• Creative Enterprise: This opportunity provides designers, crafters, consultants and other entrepreneurs with the chance to test new products and services in a physical space on a three- or six-month basis.

• Artist Residency: This opportunity offers dedicated practicing artists the chance to pursue projects and develop work in any artistic discipline for three months, with the opportunity to extend to six months.
Applications for Spaceworks Tacoma: Round 3 will be accepted until Jan. 17, 2011. Visit http://www.spaceworkstacoma.wordpress.com/apply for full details and an application.

Locations and support for Spaceworks Tacoma are provided by property owners Eric Cederstrand, Ted Johnson, Herb Simon, Steve Shaub, George Howe, Al Howe and Jeff Wohler, as well as property managers Shannon Tiegs of Roberson Building Company, Sally England of Colliers International and Michael Norman of Neil Walter. Community partners include Tacoma Contemporary, Broadway Center for the Performing Arts and King’s Books.

Parking Task Force Seeks New Members

Want to make a difference in your downtown? The Parking Management Advisory Task Force is looking for new members who will be actively engaged in decisions and recommendations to the City about downtown parking. The Task Force advises the City Manager on the downtown parking system; duties include the recently introduced paid on-street parking program, but may grow to include the City’s off-street parking facilities.

Currently, there is a need for volunteers representing downtown residents, owners/ managers of commercial properties and restaurant operators within the downtown. The Task Force currently meets the first and third Thursday’s of the month from 4 p.m. to 6.p.m..

Interested persons are invited to complete an application for further consideration by the Task Force and appointment to the Task Force by the Tacoma City Manager. Applications are due by the end of day Monday, December 13, 2010.

For more information about the Parking Management Advisory Task Force and the downtown parking system visit http://www.tacomaparking.com/.

Changes to the on-street parking system

When paid on-street parking began in September the message from the City of Tacoma was the system is designed to be flexible and over time adjustments will be made to the system. In the last several months the City of Tacoma and The Downtown Parking Management Advisory Task Force has been listening to your suggestions for improving the operations of the new pay stations to benefit its many users. Here are several changes you will see in the coming weeks including:

• On Saturdays, buy two hours and you can park all day. Parkers will be able to purchase all day parking on Saturday at each pay station for just $1.50. Users can still purchase less than two hours of time when needed, but they will not get the all day parking benefit. This is a pilot program to be evaluated in February.

• Parkers can now pre-purchase parking time for the next day beginning at 8 p.m. This change will allow more parkers to conveniently purchase time and display their receipt before enforcement begins the following morning.

• No charge for parking on portions of Market Street from S. 11th to S. 21st Streets. This is a pilot program to be evaluated in February. During this period, the City will collect parking data to assess parking demand and turnover in support of local businesses. A 90-minute time limit will be enforced.

Did you know…

• You can take your unexpired pay station time receipt to another parking space. Each pay station receipt has a time stamp that can be used in any stall within the paid parking area downtown.
• Twenty-five cents buys 20 minutes of time. The minimum cost for parking is $0.25 – for those short trips into a store or any quick stop.

For more information about the on-street parking system go to http://www.tacomaparking.com/.

Charette for Pac Ave Streetscape Project

Exciting changes are coming downtown and the City invites you to get involved.

The City of Tacoma is holding a Public Charette for the Pacific Avenue Streetscape Project and would like feedback. The public is invited to provide input and comment on conceptual designs completed for the Pacific Avenue Streetscape Project.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

9:00 a.m. - Noon

Tacoma Art Museum

1701 Pacific Avenue

Tacoma, WA 98402

Phase One of the project will improve the right-of-way from 7th Street to 17th Street and provide a streetscape design that complements the completed Pacific Avenue streetscape (17th Street to 21st Street).

The project will incorporate innovative stormwater management design, complete streets concepts, multimodal transportation and wayfinding. The new streetscape will also be designed to attract and encourage new business in downtown Tacoma.

If you would like more detailed information on this meeting, contact Sue O'Neill or you can phone her at 253.591.5789.

Anyone wanting to submit written comments may do so no later than 5 p.m., December 10, 2010 to Sue O'Neill, Asst. Division Manager, PW Engineering, 747 Market Street, Room 544, Tacoma, WA 98402.