City seeks citizens to advise paid on-street parking plans

The City of Tacoma and downtown stakeholders have discussed plans for paid on-street parking for nearly a decade. This spring the pay stations are coming…really.

The goal of the on-street parking paid parking system is to insure 15% vacancy so that clients and customers in downtown have easy access to on-street parking and the businesses they visit. The City is committed to an extensive public outreach campaign to educate downtown regulars and visitor about the parking pay stations as well as alternatives to driving into and parking downtown.

Stakeholder involvement is a key component to a successful pay station roll-out. As such, downtown stakeholders will be appointed by the City Manager to the Parking Management Advisory Task Force. The Task Force is the primary citizen’s group advising the City on parking policies and essential details of the parking system including, residential and business permits, time stays, public outreach and eventually future expansion of the paid-on-street system.

The City is currently accepting applications to the Parking Management Advisory Task Force. Get your application here. Please return completed applications no later than Monday, March 8th, 2010 to Dana Brown, City of Tacoma Public Works Department, 747 Market Street, Room 520 or email, dbrown2@cityoftacoma.org

For questions or additional information please feel free to contact me, Chelsea Levy, Parking Management Advisory Task Force Co-Chair at chelseal@tacomachamber.org or (253) 627-2175.

Past posts on this topic:
City Council Endorses Parking Meters for Downtown
Paid on-street parking...it's coming...really

Transportation Plan Program for Small Business

In order to further the downtown goal of at least 35% of employees using alternate commute options by 2015 (currently the rate is 23.8%), Downtown: On the Go! (DOTG) will now offer a Transportation Plan Program for Small Business. This program is focused on working with businesses with fewer than 100 FTEs and therefore unregulated by the state’s Commute Trip Reduction laws. If you or your employer are one such business, then DOTG wants to work with you!

Currently, the program is in its pilot phase, and is seeking approximately 10 downtown businesses to kick-off the New Year by taking a look at their employees’ commute habits and their transportation policies. Involvement in the program is simple: the time commitment is relatively small, DOTG staff time and expertise are free, and the outcomes – potential cost-savings, increased employee morale, reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality – are well worth the effort!

The Program has already been initiated with both the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and BLRB Architects. Although these businesses are currently at different phases in their respective processes, each would assure you of the benefits of this program. References can be provided upon request.

If you would like to guarantee your place in this pilot program, or would like DOTG staff to speak to your organization’s leadership, please contact Julia Petersen, DOTG Coordinator, or phone her at 253.627.2175.

Guest Author: Julia Petersen

Procession for slain sheriff’s deputy will impact Transit services

The memorial service honoring Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Kent Mundell will be held Tuesday, January 5th at the Tacoma Dome.

Those interested in attending the service at the Tacoma Dome or viewing the procession in downtown Tacoma are encouraged to utilize off-site parking at Cheney Stadium. There will be no public parking at the Tacoma Dome. Pierce Transit will operate limited free bus service to the Tacoma Dome from Cheney Stadium at 2502 S. Tyler St. Bus service will begin at 10 a.m.; the last bus will leave from Cheney Stadium at 12:30 p.m. Buses will make return trips immediately following the conclusion of the memorial service.

Beginning at 10 a.m. the memorial procession will travel north from the Puyallup Fair and Events Center along South Meridian, west on River Road, west on Puyallup Avenue, then south on D Street to the Tacoma Dome. The procession honoring Deputy Mundell will impact all traffic and travel - including Pierce Transit bus service on many bus routes, especially in the Puyallup and Tacoma Dome District areas. The Tacoma Dome Station will be closed to all bus traffic between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Please be aware that both Sound Transit and Pierce Transit plan for service modifications:

Tacoma Dome Station
Significant traffic delays and limited access are expected in the Tacoma Dome Station area between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again when the ceremony ends at approximately 4 p.m. Bus riders should expect significant service delays. Bus, Sounder, and Tacoma Link riders should plan for limited access, heavy traffic and possible delays entering and exiting the parking garage.

Tacoma Link
At approximately 10:30 a.m. during the procession, Tacoma Link will modify service to run between 25th Street Station and Theater District Station, with Tacoma Dome Station temporarily out of service. Tacoma Link will again modify service at approximately 3:30 p.m. to run between 25th Street Station and Theater District Station, with Tacoma Dome Station temporarily out of service when the memorial service concludes. The procession and the majority of exiting traffic will cross the Tacoma Link route just west of Tacoma Dome Station. Riders should expect large crowds and significant delays throughout the day from heavy traffic in the Tacoma Dome area.

Sound Transit
Express Route 574 - There will be no service to Tacoma Dome Station between 10 a.m. and noon during the procession. Passengers wanting to go to the Tacoma area will be dropped off at 10th & Commerce. Significant delays are expected in the Tacoma Dome area between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again when the ceremony ends at approximately 4 p.m.

Express Route 594 - No service at 24th & Pacific or Tacoma Dome Station between 10 a.m. and noon. Significant delays are expected in the Tacoma Dome area between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again when the ceremony ends at approximately 4 p.m.

Pierce Transit
41 -No service on Pacific Ave. or Puyallup Ave. from 21st to Portland Ave.
42 - No service on Pacific Ave., Puyallup Ave. or “D”/McKinley St. from S.21st to E. 34th & McKinley
402 – No service on Meridian or 2nd/3rd St. from S. 15th to Valley Ave.
409 – No service on East Main from Meridian to 15th St.
500 – No service on Pacific Ave. or Puyallup Ave. from 21st to Portland Ave.
501 – No service on Pacific Ave. or Puyallup Ave. from 21st to Portland Ave.

Russell Leaves…What’s the Next Step for Tacoma?

While news of losing the Frank Russell Company may initially feel like a punch in the gut that knocks the wind out of us all, once we regain our collective breath we realize that now is the opportunity to define our City and our direction for the future. There is much to be excited about.

Last night amid the clack of pool balls at a well know local watering hole a group of Tacoma’s notorious urban schemers met to discuss the future of Tacoma in a post-Russell world. The clear tone among the group was that what we all love about Tacoma does not exist thanks to one employer. We choose to live and work in Tacoma because of the people, the activities and the opportunities to collectively create a place that reflects the interests, ideas and passions of the people who live here.

So I ask, what do you want, citizens Tacoma? What is your vision for our community?

Do you want to create a vibrant urban center filled with arts, music, parks, and bikes and streetcars? If so, how do we get there? What should we prioritize in our urban centers parking or people? Culturally, what do we need as community members to fulfill our hearts and minds? What can we do to better promote the arts and support our homegrown artist? How do we bring business to Tacoma and fill our downtown with bustling shops and great places to work? How do we tell people about what we’ve got? What must we do to highlight our great neighborhoods and vibrant downtown to small businesses, new employers, and potential residents? All of these questions need answers, the best of which come from you, citizens of Tacoma.

This is an exciting time for Tacoma, a time to define where we go next. There are innumerable opportunities to influence the shape, look and feel of our community. Here are a handful of opportunities, events and ways to get involved. I know there are others and I encourage you to get involved and help shape Tacoma’s future.

Brewery District Plan

Mobility Master Plan

Downtown Parking Meters

Clean and Safe Teams and initiatives

Pierce Transit System Redesign

PSRC’s Transportation 2040 plan

Go Local Tacoma

City of Tacoma Neighborhood Councils

The Arts

Streets to Close Around Luzon Building

At this afternoon’s City Council Study Session City staff announced that starting tomorrow S. 13th Street and the southbound outside lane of Pacific Ave., adjacent to the Luzon Building will close for an undetermined amount of time.

The street closures are the City’s response to the “life safety” risks that the deterioration of the Luzon Building poses to pedestrians and passing traffic. As S. 13th St. is a major freeway access route to downtown, traffic will be detoured to ramps at S. 21st St. and S. 9th St.

These street closures coincide with road construction along Commerce St. and S. 9th St., making parts of downtown impassable to vehicles. My recommendation for getting around downtown, at least in the interim, is jumping on your bike or putting on some walking shoes.

Shoup Talks Tacoma Parking

The City of Tacoma and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber teamed up to sponsor a public lecture and conversation with renowned parking expert and UCLA professor Donald Shoup. City staff, residents, business owners, and students gathered at UWT on Wednesday morning to talk parking in Tacoma.

But parking is not just about parking, according to Professor Shoup. He has done extensive research on connections between parking and transportation, land use, economic development, and the environment. His engaging presentation was rich with Tacoma examples and images. He also highlighted United States' car-centric culture and the consequences on our cities, health, and land. (Did you know that there are 18% more automobiles than there are licensed drivers in the U.S.?)

Professor Shoup is well-known for his analysis of the "high costs of free parking," arguing that while a driver may not pay a direct fee for pulling into a "free" parking space, there are hidden costs for the community, businesses, and he advocates for charging the right price for parking, which is the lowet price that will still maintain some vacant slots. He also advocates for parking meter revenue to go directly to the neighborhoods that genereate it so people see the connection between their fare and safety, cleanliness, and aesthetics.

After the public lecture, City Staff stayed for a private conversation with Professor Shoup.

If you weren't able to get your dose of parking this week (or if you want more), here is a link to a 2007 New York Times editoral by Professor Shoup.

The Parking Puzzle: How the pieces fit in downtown Tacoma

The City of Tacoma and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber invite you to a free public conversation with renowned parking expert and UCLA professor Dr. Donald Shoup.

Dr. Shoup has done extensive research on parking as a key link between transportation and land use, with important consequences for cities, the economy, and the environment. With this expertise, Shoup will address parking and mobility in downtown Tacoma.

Dr. Shoup will also be giving the keynote address at the PIPTA (Pacific Intermountain Parking & Transportation Association) annual conference and trade show being held in Tacoma July 26-28.

When: Wednesday, July 29, 8-9 am

Where: UWT Carwein Auditorium

Who: Open to the public

Cost: FREE!

This is an exciting opportunity for us transit and parking geeks, and anyone interested in the economic vitality of our downtown - mobility is key.

See you there!

Expect Construction Delays at S. 9th and Broadway

Starting on Tuesday, May 26, contractors will begin to install new power and communication vaults at the intersection of South Ninth Street and Broadway near the Pantages Theater. While this work is underway, the eastbound lanes (downhill) of Ninth Street will be restricted to one-lane.

Due to ongoing work at this intersection, restrictions and delays can be expected over the next several weeks. Signs and flaggers will be in place to notify drivers in the area of the traffic revisions. There will also be temporary sidewalk closures. Pedestrians will be able to cross at South Ninth Street and St. Helens Avenue, but not at Broadway.

This work is outside the scope of the Broadway Local Improvement District, but is associated with the project.

Do YOU Bike Tacoma?

May is national bike month, and whether you're an avid bike commuter or a fair weather rider, Tacoma has plenty events and activities to promote and celebrate cycling in our great city. Check out PierceTrips.com for full details.

Bike Month activities are organized by the City of Tacoma in partnership with Pierce Transit and Pierce County, and sponsored this year by MultiCare.

Bike Swap – Saturday, May 9: Need a bike? Have one or two you'd like to sell? Stop by the University of Puget Sound between noon and 5 this Saturday for Tacoma's first bike swap. With vendors from throughout the Northwest there will be plenty of bicycles to choose from, whether you’re looking for road, mountain, or vintage. There will also be giveaways (blinky lights, anyone?), commuter routes and resources, and more.

Bike to a Better Tacoma – Wednesday, May 13: Stop by the Hub (203 Tacoma Ave S) from 5-7 pm to talk about the City’s bicycle plan and enjoy a free slice!

Bike to work week Commuter Challenge - May 11-15: Gather a team of co-workers, register on PierceTrips.com, ride to work, and win great prizes! On Friday morning, May 15, pedal to Blackwater Coffee or the UWT Starbucks for a free cup of coffee poured by a City council member.

Zeit Bike Spoke Tales at the Tacoma Art Museum, - May 21, 6 pm: Enter your spoke card, and come check out all the submissions on Third Thursday.

Special prizes from the Chamber: We’ll send Downtown: On the Go! Chamber members who log at least 4 bicycle trips in May a gift card to one of our great downtown coffee shops!

Think biking isn't for you? Now is the perfect time to give it a try, and there are plenty of resources to help you get started. Visit PierceTrips.com for a bicycle commuter guide and suggested commuter routes identified by the Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club. Stop by the bike swap to pick out a new ride. Attend a Bike Commuting or Bike Maintenance workshop. Meet and chat with other cycling enthusiasts, novices, advocates, and planners. We look forward to seeing you out there!

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Commute Trip Reduction News
Downtown: On the Go! Reinvent Your Commute

The Chamber is proud to partner with the City of Tacoma, Pierce Transit, and Pierce County to be a resource for your downtown business and employees' transportation needs, and to promote transportation efficiency and economic vibrancy downtown. This monthly newsletter keeps you informed of our efforts, how we can assist you, and ways you can be involved.

To subscribe to this newsletter, or for information or questions about the Chamber’s Commute Trip Reduction efforts, contact Jessica Holden at 253-627-2175 or jessicah@tacomachamber.org.

Be sure to check out the winners of this month's Chamber Commute Rewards program and find out how you and your employees can enter to win great prizes!

Upcoming Events
LUNCHTIME Downtown Commuter Social: Friday, March 20, 12-1 – Some of you were unable to attend our first commuter social after work because of your vanpool or bus schedule. We hope you will join us on the 20th for lunch downtown as our way of saying “thanks” for your smart commuting! Please let Jessica know if you plan to attend by Tuesday, March 17 so we can choose our venue accordingly.

It’s Vanpool Time!
Did you know that Pierce Transit has more than 100 vanpools serving a variety of employers in Pierce County? Twenty of those vanpools serve downtown Tacoma. Vanpooling offers a safe and comfortable ride to work, saves fuel and operating costs for your vehicle, and helps reduce carbon emissions by eliminating single occupant vehicles on our roadways. Employees who vanpool enjoy a stress-free trip to work. It is a win-win commute solution for employees and employers alike! Learn more about vanpooling on Pierce Transit’s website.

Want to give it a try? We thought you might, so in partnership with Pierce Transit’s great vanpool staff, the Chamber is offering a special vanpool promotion during March, April, and May:

• Try it and win prizes: Contact us to find out how you can try a vanpool near you 5 times for free. When you try vanpooling and log your trips on PierceTrips.com, we’ll give you a $10.00 coffee card! AND you’ll be entered into a grand prize drawing held at the end of May.


• Join and save even more: If you’re new to vanpooling and decide to join one, the Chamber will cover your first month’s fare, as long as it’s in April or May – so don’t wait!
  Contact Jessica at the Chamber for more information and to find out how you can get started with this special promotion.

If you or your staff are interested in learning more about Pierce Transit’s vanpool program, email Heidi or Kim from Pierce Transit’s vanpool team. They can provide onsite presentations and consultations for you and your staff.

ORCA is Coming…
ORCA (One Regional Card for All) is coming soon to transportation agencies near you. For more information and current updates, please visit PierceTrips.com.

FREE! March Bus Passes
Are you or your employees interested in trying out the bus this month – for free? The Chamber is excited to offer prospective bus riders a monthly Puget Pass. Please contact Jessica at the Chamber if you are interested.

Featured Business: Goodwill Industries
Each month, we feature a downtown business and their Employer Transportation Program. Let us know if you have a program you’d like to share.

For Goodwill Industries, reducing commute trips is an important component of being an environmentally responsible company. Dylan Lippert shared with us about their efforts:

Why did Goodwill Industries decide to create an Employer Transportation Program?
Tacoma Goodwill is committed to being an excellent steward of our environment. Our Green Team is always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and other impacts on the environment. One facet we are working on is reducing our commute trips made in single passenger vehicles. Our line of thought went kind of like this:

I personally drive a clean diesel car. My car gets 46.5mpg, which is excellent! However, with only one person in it I am just getting 46.5mpg.

I could carpool with 3 other individuals. If the average car gets 25mpg, then that carpool is effectively getting 100 miles per person per gallon. We have promoted carpools in the past and continue to do so, but it really gets exciting when folks take public transportation! A city bus gets and average of 3.8 mpg and has a capacity of 44 people on average. So at capacity, busses get 167.2 miles per gallon per person. WOW!
It is easy to see that with fewer gallons of fuel being converted to CO2 that a real benefit is had for our environment.

Looking at it another way, the average bus takes up the road space of 4 regular vehicles, and so displaces 41 vehicles on the road. This reduces traffic and the need to build new roads, and it protects our valuable green space.

What efforts have you made so far?
We promote the use of PierceTrips.com and are looking into other incentives for our employees choosing greener methods of commuting. We have offered the option for a four day work week in cases where it fits into employees’ job duties.

What kind of feedback have you received from your employees about your program?
Many employees have commented that they appreciate the fact that we are doing this. While not all employees can take advantage of our various commute trip reduction methods, the fact that we are making an effort is much appreciated.

What have been some of your challenges, and how have you addressed them?
The main challenge centers on work and life schedules. However, PierceTrips.com provides a fun incentive, and the Emergency Ride Program helps provide an important safety net. Our goal is to persuade those who are not committed currently to a certain type of commute, i.e. someone who would take either their own personal vehicle or public transportation. Some folks will always drive and some will always bike or use other green methods of commuting; we mainly focus on those between the two extremes.

About how much time do you spend on your efforts?
Not much time, probably 5 hours a month total.

Do you have any advice for other downtown businesses who may be thinking about starting an employer transportation program?
There are many reasons to promote alternative commuting options. Spreading knowledge about the impact our commute has on the environment is an effective way to motivate people to make personal changes. Any change, big or small, is better than doing nothing.

Spring Campaigns on PierceTrips.com – are YOU signed up?
Spring means the arrival of Wheel Options, RideshareOnline promotions, and more! Check it out here.

Plus - If you ever carpool, vanpool, take the bus, walk, or bike to work - even occasionally - you should check out the trip-tracking calendar. It calculates your pollution and cost savings and enters you into great prize drawings. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and fill out the calendar. And if you’re thinking about leaving your car at home or sharing the ride with others, piercetrips.com is a great place to learn about your commute options!

February Chamber Commute Rewards Prize Winners
Downtown Chamber commuters who log their trips on PierceTrips.com are automatically entered to win great prizes each month. In February, commuters who logged at least SIX smart commutes (biking, walking, ridesharing, or transit) were eligible for these prizes. Congratulations!

$100.00 Gift Certificate to Indochine Restaurant: Cindy Westling, Brown and Brown Insurance
$20.00 Gift Certificate to Embellish Salon: Deb Abraham, Rainier Pacific Bank & Becci Grant, Brown and Brown Insurance
$20.00 Gift Certificate Metro Coffee: Donna Levin, YWCA & Lynn Thorson Mourer, United Way of Pierce County

In March, downtown employees who log at least EIGHT non-drive alone commute trips will be eligible. That’s right - we’re upping the ante a little with the longer days and warmer weather. It’s a great time to try something new!

For more information or help using PierceTrips.com, please contact us or visit PierceTrips.com.

Downtown Business Leaders Address Commuting Options

Leaders from more than 15 downtown businesses have formed the Downtown: On the Go! Transportation partnership to identify viable solutions to the parking and transportation challenges facing downtown businesses and commuters. On February 5, members of the partnership agreed to collaborate on strategies to reach a goal of 35 percent of employees using transit, walking, biking, and sharing rides.

The partnership has agreed to meet monthly and will address the following:

• Transit routes, capacity, programs, and frequency.
• Identifying downtown employee residential patterns to better understand primary commute routes and influence transit route planning and biking infrastructure alignments.
• Biking and walking infrastructure and amenities.
• Carsharing possibilities and opportunities for Tacoma

The group was convened by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and the City of Tacoma, in partnership with Pierce Transit. The Downtown: On the Go! Transportation partnership evolved from a series of CEO Transportation forums held last summer that featured regional transportation experts. This group will continue to work with parking and transportation expert Rick Williams, director of the Lloyd District Transportation Management Association of Portland, Oregon.

Pierce Transit Considers Service Cuts

In an effort to cut costs, Pierce Transit is considering cutting some low-use bus service.

The situation is a complicated one: Pierce Transit's largest revenue source is sales tax, so while the economy and high gas prices have contributed to considerable ridership increases in the past year, the agency's budget has shrunk as people spend less.

PierceTransit cut $5.7 million from its 2008 budget and is looking at a variety of ways to trim its 2009 budget.

Yesterday, staff presented three options to the Pierce Transit Board. Click here to read more from the News Tribune.

Parking Requirements (or not) in the IFSA

The Planning Commission heard recommendations last week from the City Council’s Environment and Public Works Committee and the City Manager to eliminate parking minimums and maximums in the International Financial Services Area (IFSA) downtown. The draft amendment was approved to move forward by the Planning Commission, and they will hold a public comment session on February 4th. The City Council is expected to hear public comment on the proposal in April.

The IFSA, as you might guess, is the area between 8th and 15th, Commerce Street and I-705. So what does this recommendation mean? Basically, there are current minimum and maximum parking requirements for new development, and lifting those regulations would allow for a market-based approach to determining the number of off-street parking stalls that accompany new development in the IFSA.

And why might this change matter? The proposal cites two overarching reasons. The first is that eliminating parking minimums and maximums in this area would be an added draw for potential developers. Land availability, strict development restrictions, and limited parking options are common challenges for those looking to develop in urban areas, and this could provide an additional incentive to move to Tacoma.

The second reason is largely environmental. The proposal follows the City’s Green Ribbon Climate Action Task Force recommendation to focus planning and zoning decisions on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Eliminating parking minimums will discourage single-occupancy vehicles and encourage transit and non-motorized transportation, which is good for business as well as the environment.

The Planning Commission Public Hearing will be February 4th at 5:00 pm at the City Council Chambers in the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, 1st floor). Click here for more information.

Dome District Stakeholders Comment on Sound Transit Plans

A committed group of business owners and community members concerned about the future of the Dome District has been meeting regularly over the past few months with the Sound Transit Design Team to review proposed designs of the Sounder comuter train extension from D Street to M Street.

For more information about the D to M Street Extension please visit the Hillside Development Council website

In Mid-November the citizens group sent the following memo to Sound Transit articulating their concerns about the process.

_________________________________________
November 13, 2008

To: Sound Transit

From: Citizen of Tacoma

Re: Sounder Train, D Street to M Street Extension

Over the past couple of months a number of citizens have been meeting with the Sound Transit Design Team and City of Tacoma representatives for the design review of the extension of the Sounder Train from D Street to M Street. During this period a number of issues have been revealed which are summarized in this memo.

The issues and comments include:

1. The community and local groups defined a list of 6 general principles to consider in the design of the extension. These were submitted at the first meeting of the group. It appears that the Design Team and Sound Transit are not taking these general principles seriously. It is the strong recommendation that these “general guiding principles” become the committed “design criteria” for the project.

2. A number of key elements may have affected the intent of the “Term Sheet” that was signed by the City of Tacoma and Sound Transit last year. It is recommended that the City of Tacoma/City Council review this “Term Sheet” to determine if it needs to be revisited. The grades and impacts proposed by Sound Transit certainly seem to have changed a number of factors in the agreement.

3. The design seems only to respond to the rail needs, whereas the primary design issue needs to be the people affected by this extension through the emerging urban area.

4. Meeting notes were taken by a Sound Transit scribe and these notes were to be converted to minutes of the meetings. The first meeting minutes were submitted to the group at the second meeting with no prior review. Before the third meeting the citizens reviewed the minutes and responded to a number of erroneous statements in the minutes. To date:

a. The first meeting minutes have not been submitted to the group with corrections noted by the citizens (see attachment).

b. No minutes of the second and third meetings have been distributed.(The minutes were received by email midday today so there is no time to review the minutes prior to the meeting.)

5. The tenor of the meetings has not been consistent:

a. At the first meeting the Sound Transit design team wanted to rush to design judgment and have the citizen group’s blessing on what Sound Transit was presenting. The citizens distributed the “general guiding principles” and a couple of diagrams suggesting that these principles should be the basis of design.

b. The second meeting seemed to be an attempt by the Sound Transit design team to be sensitive to the citizens’ design issues. The dialogue was somewhat encouraging.

c. The third meeting turned the discussions 180 degrees. The presentations were blunt responses to the needs of the rail, with impacts to grades and streets being more serious than previously thought. The Sound Transit design team did not appear to be working toward a people/urban friendly solution.

6. This memo is the results of a number of community gatherings since the last Sound Transit design team/citizens meeting.

7. A number of key questions have surfaced:

a. What should be done about the closing of A Street and what is the mitigation?
b. Why is South C Street now being closed?
c. Why are the potential problems of the at grade crossing at East D Street not being addressed d. What should be done at Pacific Avenue? The group is now told that Pacific Avenue will be lower almost twice as far as indicated at the time of the Term Sheet.

8. There may be other considerations that need to be addressed in this project:

a. Should more grade separations be considered? (i.e. A Street, C Street)
b. What about the impacts of the trains through the rest of the City as it moves through South Tacoma? Recent articles have pointed out some serious concerns about safety along the entire route.

Action Steps that Citizens believe need to be taken:

1. The City of Tacoma needs an independent “rail specialist” and independent “urban design team” to address the concerns of the City and the community that are not high priorities in the design solution by Sound Transit.
2. Sound Transit needs to provide approved minutes of all the meetings, with the first draft of the minutes well in advance of the next meeting day.
3. The three tiers of meetings that are outlined in the “Term Sheet” need to be coordinated. Information from the “Project Management Team” and the “Executive Oversight Committee” need to be transmitted to the Design Team citizens group. Perhaps a citizen of the City needs to be represented on these committees.
4. Information with complete backup data needs to be shared early with all participants so that consensus can be achieved with clear understanding.

The citizens believe that a collaborative approach that really addresses the impacts on the urban area and the quality of life for its community can be achieved. We just need to reorder the priorities.

Attachments:
1. General Guiding Principles
2. Meeting #1 Minutes with citizen comments in red


End of Memo.

Extending the Sounder to Lakewood…Why You Should Care

Although there isn’t much for Pierce County in Sound Transit’s recently passed Proposition 1, Sound Transit construction is headed our way. The proposed extension of the Sounder Commuter line through the Dome District and on to Lakewood will define how the Dome District develops in the years to come.

Although it may not be readily evident, the underutilized Dome District has great potential to redevelop into an active, exciting urban neighborhood on par with Portland’s Pearl District and Vancouver’s Yaletown. Our Dome District is at the nexus of multiple transportation corridors linking the north and south Puget Sound. Amtrak, Sounder, Link light rail, freight rail, Tacoma Dome station park and ride for local and commuter buses, ramps for the I-705 and I-5 freeways and the connection point to the long awaited Water Ditch and Prairie Line pedestrian and bike trails all connect through the District.

Currently, hundreds of people pass through and nearby the Dome District daily, creating a great transit oriented development opportunity; if only we create an urban environment that attracts these would-be customers and residents to stay, shop, live and play. The decisions made in the near future about the Sound Transit extension will set the path for how the Dome District can and will develop in the future.

The D to M street track and signal improvement alignment designed by Sound Transit will send the Sounder through the heart of the Dome District at-grade, with the exception of a raised grade-separated crossing at Pacific Ave. According to Sound Transit, the challenging topography of the Dome District combined with the grade limitations and sightline line requirements for both vehicles and trains restrict the design of the route. Consequently, the proposed $6 million project will bi-sect existing parcels, close South ‘C’ and ‘A’ Streets, define the route by which the Water Ditch Trail enters downtown Tacoma, and create at grade railroad crossings at East ‘D’ and East ‘C’ Streets.

Ultimately, project will redirect intercity passenger trains between Tacoma and Nisqually from the circuitous BNSF freight line along the coast to a passenger oriented inland route. The new routing will enable WSDOT to operate two additional round trip Cascades trains from Portland to Seattle and Sound Transit’s Sounder to extend service to Lakewood. The project will reduce travel time by 6 minutes between Portland and Seattle as well as avoid freight traffic interference through two single-track tunnels and port activities along the current route. Ultimately, Amtrak services will relocate to the newly constructed Freighthouse Square station in Tacoma providing direct access to Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter rail, and Link light rail to downtown Tacoma.

Given these benefits, is the proposed design of this project really worth sacrificing the potential transit orient development of the Dome District into an active urban environment?

Planning for Tacoma's Future at the City Center Luncheon

Make your lunch hour count by coming to the City Center Luncheon, THE place to find out about the plans that are shaping Tacoma's future. The City Center Luncheon is a quarterly event organized by the Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce.

What: City Center Luncheon - “Planning for Tacoma ’s Future”
When: Friday, November 14, 11:30 a.m. (registration), 12:00 p.m.– 1:15 p.m. (program)
Where: The Tacoma Club 1201 Pacific Ave., #1600

Sponsored by Frontier Bank

Presentations at the Luncheon include:

• Downtown Plan Update / City of Tacoma - Ryan Petty and Peter Huffman
• UWT Master Plan Update / University of Washington Tacoma – Milt Tremblay
• Update on Paid Parking Research in Downtown/ Parking Implementation Committee – Marty Campbell
• Commuting Options for Downtown Businesses / Tacoma Pierce County Chamber– Jessica Holden
• Plans for the Luzon Building Renovation / Gintz Group – Karsen Keever
• Introducing Tollefest - a winter festival in Tollefson Plaza / Tacoma Pierce County Chamber – Joanne Buselmeier

Register by visiting the Chamber's Website or call Janice Hutchins, 253.627.2175, janiceh@tacomachamber.org

Complete Streets: What They Are and Why We Need Them

A national movement is gaining momentum calling for “complete streets” that are designed for all types of users of all ages and abilities, pedestrians, cyclists, transit, trucks, cars, wheelchairs, skateboarders etc.

In addition to accommodating all users, complete street designs incorporate landscaping, trees and other features which provide both aesthetic and functional benefits, ultimately creating a sense of place that attracts all the users it was designed for.

The City of Tacoma is currently engaged in a study to incorporate complete street principles in the 16 Mixed-Use Centers. Tacoma’s Mixed-Use Centers are areas (primarily the neighborhood business districts) that are planned for high density housing, commercial revitalization, pedestrian friendly development and frequent transit service.

A number of recent planning processes have highlighted the benefits of and need for complete streets including Angelou Economics economic development strategy, the Downtown Plan Update, Destination Downtown, the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan, and the Green Ribbon Taskforce.

The complete streets study identifies four street typologies, each with their own characteristics and uses. For more information on preliminary findings and designs here.

Main Streets (think McKinley, Proctor and 6th Ave.): High density people intensive retail uses oriented to the street. Street design emphasizes walking and highlights transit and bike access while promoting traffic calming. Two lanes streets (25 mph), short blocks with generous sidewalks.

Avenues (think S. Tacoma Way, S. 19th and Portland Ave): Commercial, office and mixed uses with buildings oriented to the street and parking in the rear. Street design emphasizes mobility and balances safety and service for all modes. Three to five travel lanes (35 mph) with on-street parking. Encourage mid-block crossings with medians and pedestrian islands on longer blocks (500’-600’).

Transit Priority Streets (think Tacoma Ave., Division and Pacific): High density people-intensive uses. Mixed use buildings oriented to the street. Street design promotes frequent transit service (bus and streetcar) and a high quality pedestrian environment with curb bulbs and regular pedestrian crossings.. Two shared travel lanes (25mph) with on street parking where appropriate. Bikes are accommodated on parallel streets.

Urban Residential Streets: Primarily Multifamily residential uses with limited commercial/ mixed uses. Street design promotes ‘livable streets’ with wide sidewalks, public art, seating, pedestrian scale lighting, attractive landscaping, bike lanes. Two travel lanes with slow travel speeds. Angled or parallel parking on street for visitors, residential parking in nearby lots/garages.

The purpose of the complete streets study is to inform a City Council policy discussion of the opportunities and challenges in Tacoma. The project will develop guidelines for complete streets that, if approved, would be used to direct future street improvements within the Centers.

California's Governor Schwarzenegger signed the Complete Streets Act of 2008 (pdf) into law on September 30. The law requires cities and counties statewide to incorporate complete streets when updating their general plans. Learn more at http://www.completestreets.org/