$15 Mil. for Tacoma LINK Expansion

Today, Sen. Patty Murray announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the City of Tacoma $15 million for the Tacoma LINK Expansion through the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant program Sen. Murray created in 2009.

The project will expand downtown Tacoma's existing streetcar line to more than double its current length, and add several stations with improved bicycle and pedestrian access.

“This is the kind of investment that can transform neighborhoods and help local economies grow and create jobs,” Senator Murray said. “As Tacoma continues to grow, it’s critical that all citizens-- including students, workers, and families-- have access to safe, reliable transit. I’m proud to keep fighting for the federal TIGER grant program because it continually reinvests in our communities, brings our transit systems into the 21st century, and helps our economy grow from the middle out, not the top down.”

Earlier this year in an official letter of support, Sen. Murray urged Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to consider the grant, citing the project’s ability to connect communities and spur economic activity. In addition to the Tacoma LINK Expansion grant, Sen. Murray also announced today that the Washington State Department of Transportation has been awarded $10 million to construct a new ferry terminal in Mukilteo.

Since Sen. Murray created the TIGER program, it has awarded $4.1 billion to 342 innovative, multimodal projects around the country, including $204 million going to 13 projects in Washington state. Past projects include the North Spokane Corridor, the Mercer Corridor Redevelopment, the South Park Bridge Replacement in King County, the West Vancouver Freight Access project at the Port of Vancouver, improvements to I-5 to relieve congestion around JBLM, and moderation of Terminal 46 at the Port of Seattle.

Background on Tacoma LINK Expansion Project:
•         Project approved by voters in 2008 as part of Sound Transit 2 Plan
•         Supported by Tacoma City Council, Pierce County, Sound Transit, Tacoma Public Schools, Group Health, University of Washington-Tacoma, Evergreen State College, Tacoma Housing Authority, and more
•         With expansion, the existing 1.6 mile streetcar line will gain an additional 2.4 miles, for a total system length of 4 miles
•         The expansion includes six additional stations with service planned for 17 hours/day
•         The expansion would connect downtown Tacoma to the Stadium and Hilltop Districts, where 25 percent of residents are low-income and 30 percent of households have no vehicle
•         The expansion would provide access to Tacoma’s “Medical Mile,” which includes major hospitals and medical centers, and five educational facilities serving nearly 17,000 students
•         Transit trips are expected to increase from 1 million to 3.5 million annually, for a daily ridership increase of nearly 85 percent

Prairie Line Trail Update

The Prairie Line Trail will connect the south end of downtown to the Foss Waterway, as a multi-modal corridor, with resting places, green space, artwork, and historic content. The trail is being developed in part by the University of Washington Tacoma and in part by the City of Tacoma. For more information on the trail's redevelopment click here. To take a look at some of the design through the UWT portion click here.

City Council met on Tuesday to discuss property donations and exhange agreements with BNSF Railway. The city will recieve 20-foot strips of land from S. 26th to 25th St., 23rd to 21st, and Pacific to 15th. This falls under a donations agreement, which also includes 80-foot right of way width from S. 25th to 23rd and at street intersections.

The exchange agreement shares that the city will obtain easements from BNSF allowing for the crossing of the rail line at 15th St. for furture widening of the I-705 overpass, and BNSF agrees to allow construction of a future pedestrian overpass near E. 23rd St. right of way. All of this is in exhange for the city vacating a portion of A St. for permanent closure of railroad crossing; a connection that has already been barricaded for sometime.

The council hopes to have resolutions transactions approved by early march, with a closing date approximately 90 days after approval.

For more information on the terms and visuals of these agreements see the City Council's January 29th Study Session for the handouts.

UWT Prairie Line Trail Design

Japanese School Memorial.

Last week UWT unveiled their design proposal for their portion of the Prairie Line Trail. The proposed trail contains new resting places, green space, beautiful histortical content: such as the existing tracks from the Prairie Line, and new artwork like this Japanese school memorial. 

UW's next move is to start phasing construction on 21st St. so that pedestrians and bicyclists have a safer place to cross.

The University has come up with 3 phases to the create a safe crossing on 21st St. Descriptions are as follows:

• Phase 1/C Street Crossing = This is the current alignment - a crosswalk crossing 21st St. at C St.
• Phase 2/Double Median = Increasing safety by adding two medians. See below for example.
•  Phase 3/Bridge and Tunnel = Future construction plans are to build a bridge with a tunnel underneath for the trail. It is unclear when this might be constructed. See example below.

We are excited to see what the Prairie Line Trail has in store for downtown and the BIA in the future. Look for another post soon on updates for the City's plans and designs are for the trail.



Phase 2: Double Median Design.



Phase 3: Bridge/Tunnel Design.

Prairie Line Trail Public Art Tour

This Saturday, November 12th, at 2PM the Tacoma Arts Commission will be leading a 90-minute tour of the Prairie Line Trail.  This will be a great opportunity to learn about the significance and future of the Trail while enjoying a series of public art interventions.

Before the Prairie Line Trail followed Hood Street as it does today, it was the western terminus for the Northern Pacific Railroad's transcontinental line (beating out other notable northwest cities).  Today the City is discussing how to best retain this piece of history while integrating it with modern uses (previously discussed here).  In addition, the City is looking at ways to build a non-motorized trail connecting the Water Ditch Trail through south downtown to and onto the Thea Foss Waterway.

(more below)

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.

Prairie Line Trail Update

On Monday, August 9, 2010 the City of Tacoma applied for design and construction grants as part of the ongoing process of transforming the abandoned Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad corridor into an urban pedestrian and bicycle trail.

The Prairie Line Trail will be a linear park linking planned redevelopment in the Brewery District to the University of Washington Tacoma, Tollefson Plaza, Tacoma Art Museum and the Thea Foss Esplanade. The trail will provide better access from the south end of downtown to the Foss Waterway and will be a benefit to businesses and employees. Additionally, the Prairie Line Trail will connect to other regional trails including the Historic Water Ditch Trail and the Scott Pierson Trail.

Mobility Master Plan Community Workshops this Week!

Join the City of Tacoma in identfying existing conditions and opportunities to improve Tacoma's bicycling and walking environments, as well as connections to transit. Three community workshops will be held this week and early next week, and Tacoma citizens are invited! Attend and voice your insights and opinions on vital transportation corridors, connectivity gaps, and Tacoma's general mobility direction. Check out the info on the city's website: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=12894

Mobility Plan Community Workshop Dates:
Wednesday, Sept. 23 - South Park Community Center
Address: 4851 S Tacoma Way Tacoma, WA 98409
Website: http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=47

Thursday, Sept. 24 - Norpoint Centre
Address: 4818 Nassau Ave NE Tacoma, WA 98422
Website: http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=45

Monday, Sept. 28 - University of Puget Sound, Rasmussen Rotunda in Wheelock Student Center
Address: 1500 N. Warner, Tacoma, WA 98416
Website: www.pugetsound.edu