Link to Remain Fare Free

This past Thursday, the Sound Transit Board voted unanimously to defer the implementation of per- ride fees for the Tacoma Link.  The postponement of fee collection was made possible through a $29,000 annual donation made by the Tacoma Business Improvement Area.  In order to keep customer foot traffic and business patronage in the downtown area high, the BIA has offered this donation to offset Sound Transit’s projected lost net revenues for the year. 

Without the BIA’s donation, the transit agency would have begun charging $1 per adult ride on the Link to offset the cost of running the 1.5 mile line.  Both Mayor Marilyn Strickland and the BIA believe the implementation of a per-ride fee makes more sense once the planned Link expansion in the Hilltop and Stadium districts is complete (estimated for a 2022 completion).  The current arrangement will allow hundreds of thousands people to continue riding the Link for free in the foreseeable future.

For additional information, visit the Tacoma News Tribune here, view the Sound Transit's press release here, or read the Business Examiner's coverage here.

Two Big Wins for Tacoma Transit

Last week the Sound Transit Board approved their 2016 budget, which dedicated funds to Tacoma, Lakewood, Federal Way, Seattle, Everett and other transit systems. The Sound Transit Board approved an overall budget of $1.2 billion; $802.9 million of that was dedicated to expansions with an emphasis on light rail expansions. 

Some of the plans include $44 million to complete the final design and begin constructing the Tacoma Trestle, $7 million for the Tacoma Link extension, $11 million to complete final design and start construction of an expanded Sounder layover facility in Lakewood that will accommodate added south line service by 2017, $9 million to purchase new coaches for expanded Sounder service to Lakewood, and many other projects around Western Washington. 

More funding will be made available to Tacoma from the Federal Transit Administration's budget, as voted on last week by the House and Senate. Sound Transit reports $74.99 million in Small Starts funding will be dedicated to extending the Tacoma Link light rail line into the Hilltop neighborhood. The funding will go specifically towards the expansion voters approved in 2008. The expansion will create an additional 2.4 miles along Stadium Way to the Hilltop District. 

Moving forward with the strong support for continued expansions the Sound Transit Board will be placing a comprehensive package for voters to consider next November. The measure will be known as the Sound Transit 3 ballot measure and will be available as a draft in early 2016. 

Follow the links below for more information: 

RT&S

Business Examiner 

I love trains.

I just took the Amtrak down to Portland a few weeks back for a work trip. It is my favorite way to travel to PDX, which I do for work and pleasure at least a few times a year. Portland’s walk-ability and transit system also make it really easy to be without a car.

You may have heard by now that WSDOT will be breaking ground on the new Amtrak station at Freighthouse Square this next year and that new station is schedule to open in 2017.

Parts of the plans for the new station include a clock tower that WSDOT and the Citizens Advisory Committee on the project have hopes will be an iconic addition to the Tacoma landscape.

The proposed clock tower will stand 80 to 90 feet tall and be located on 25th Street, in front of the Freighthouse Square building and across the street from the commuter parking garage.

Whenever someone uses the word iconic – I’ll admit I get a little nervous.

Not because I’m against iconic structures. No, in fact, I think iconic design and architectural elements are an important factor in a community’s identification with its city.

I get nervous because sometimes what gets produced in the service of iconic is something ugly, something out of place, something that isn’t functional, or something that is trying entirely too hard.

I’m not an architect or a designer, but like most of you, I know when something works and doesn’t work. It’s a fine line – trying to create something iconic

In some ways there are a lot of things out of the control of the designers and decision makers that end up making something iconic. Sometimes it is just about timing. Sometimes it’s about the cultural evolution of a place that can’t be anticipated in the moment.

Interestingly enough, we already have an iconic structure in the vicinity of the new Amtrak station – the Tacoma Dome.

The T-Dome is a good example. I’m not sure anyone would call it attractive and in fact many people might call it an eye sore. Nevertheless, it is iconic and you can’t think about the Tacoma landscape without calling to mind the dome.

The structure itself is iconic and that doesn’t even take into account the history that it holds. I wore out my Sonic’s T-Shirt that had the Tacoma landscape worked into the Sonic’s logo from their time playing in the Woodshed in the 1994-95 season. That’s just one of my many favorite pieces of T-Dome history.

One of the things that will make the Tacoma dome even more iconic (in my opinion) is the Warhol Flower being painted on the top of the dome. I know that everyone doesn’t share that opinion, but what I like about it is that it takes something that is already a known quantity and connects it even more deeply to a significant part of our identity as strong artistically oriented city.

Plus, it takes a bit of a risk – which sometimes is needed when trying to create something iconic.

WSDOT put a call out for residents to weigh in on three proposed designs for the clock tower. Today was the deadline for input. I will be interested to see what the feedback is.

I won’t get into the proposed designs, but if you want to read more about them you can check out Matt Driscoll’s article in The News Tribune. Like Matt, I think the clock tower is a good idea, but I’m not sold on any of the current designs either.

Here is the thing about creating something iconic – you can’t let the limitations get in the way.

There are plenty of potential limitations – cost, the limitations of the location, and trying to meet particular deadlines.

Taking a risk is not the same thing as settling for something less the desirable because we lack the will, the imagination, and the determination to create something that really works.

I vote that we take our time.

Matt points out that City Councilman David Boe (an architect) has some ideas, including a city run open design competition – after all Tacoma is full of many great artists, designers, and architects that I believe have the capacity to imagine something that will indeed be iconic.

In my opinion it would be worth the time and effort – let’s get this right.

If at this late hour you still want to weigh in. You can access the survey here - online survey .

Tacoma Link Expansion on the Horizon

There is an expansion of the Tacoma Link on the horizon which comes as great news for the Tacoma-Pierce County region! At the beginning of January Sound Transit's Capital Committee officially launched Phase 3 of the Tacoma Link expansion project that should be complete at the end of 2015.

Sound Transit approved the contract for $1.7m with CH2m Hill, Inc to provide engineering services. This preliminary engineering process will bring the Tacoma Link Expansion project to 30% design. The engineers will begin to review additional design specification for the final construction. 

The BIA is excited for this project and what it can mean for our local business. Furthering our public transit in the City of Tacoma will continue to connect the city and bring visitors into the downtown region.  We will be following this story as more information is announced. 

Tacoma Link Expansion Update

Yesterday Sound Transit presented at the Tacoma City Council Study Session regarding potential expansion routes for the Tacoma Link. The Chamber has previously discussed alternative corridors for the expansion of the 1.6 mile long Tacoma Link light rail line. The Tacoma Link expansion process has included numerous opportunities for public input, including meetings with various stakeholders, open houses, online surveys, distributed mailings, roundtable discussions, media articles, and business district and neighborhood council briefings. Through this process have emerged six possible corridors that would expand on the current light rail that begins at the Tacoma Dome Station and ends in the Theatre District.

The six corridors were identified (see map) as follows:

• B1- North End Central- 6^th Avenue to Union Avenue via Stadium Way and Division Street
• C1- Eastside- 48^th and Portland Avenue via E 25^th Street
• D4- South End via Eastside- Tacoma Mall via Portland Avenue, 38^th/48^th Street
• E1- North Downtown Central- 19^th and Martin Luther King Jr Way via Stadium Way and Division Street
• E2- North Downtown Central Loop- A variant of E1 with a downtown loop component on Jefferson Street
• G1- Pacific Highway- Extending from Fife to the Tacoma Dome station

Noted in the presentation were the approximate costs and length of each corridor, as well as the pros and cons associated with each route. A recurring theme of several of the City council members was how each corridor would contribute to the City’s economic development.

The B1 route would link downtown with the busy 6^th Avenue business district, potentially attracting many riders and providing faster service to the Tacoma Dome. The area surrounding this route is also already zoned to support higher density mixed use development, all important factors to consider. The C1 route would also provide faster service from the eastside to both the Tacoma Dome and downtown, however a high ridership for the area is questionable and the current zoning is not supportive of higher density mixed use development.

Tacoma Link Expansion Survey

Sound Transit, along with the City of Tacoma and Pierce Transit, have identified six corridor alternatives regarding the expansion of the 1.6 mile long Tacoma Link light rail line. These corridors were chosen based on the following important criteria: 

• Improve connections to regional transit
• Increase transit ridership and reduce car use
• Connect to an existing neighborhood or major activity center
• Improve transit service between downtown Tacoma and at least one neighborhood
• Serve existing or proposed areas of high density housing or jobs
• Serve an area that is home to many low-income and/or minority residents, or has received relatively low infrastructure investments
• Connect to an existing mixed-use center or a designated manufacturing/industrial center
• Avoid major costly engineering challenges, such as corridors with steep elevation grades

As such, six corridors were identified (see map):

• B1- 6^th Avenue to Union Avenue via Stadium Way and Division Street
• E1- 19^th and Martin Luther King Jr Way via Stadium Way and Division Street
• C1- 48^th and Portland Avenue via E 25^th Street
• G1- Pacific Highway
• D4- Tacoma Mall via Portland Avenue, 38^th/48^th Street
• E2- A variant of E1 with a downtown loop component on Jefferson Street

Next steps include opportunities for public input and analyzing data regarding potential ridership, square footage, development potential, and capital costs. From there, the list will be whittled down to two potential corridors, followed by additional public comment leading to a preferred alternative to be presented to the Sound Transit Board in April.

To help in this process, Sound Transit would like your feedback. Please fill out their brief survey.

LINK Extension Open House

Just last year downtown Tacoma welcomed another LINK light rail stop to Commerce.  While this stop adds a number of potential new riders to the system, it would pale in comparison to an expansion of the link into another part of town with jobs, attractions, and people.

Sound Transit continues to evaluate potential expansion options for LINK as it moves forward on the alternatives analysis.  Most recently, the Chamber joined with other stakeholders to prepare a report on potential alternatives that was delivered in January of 2011.

Tomorrow is another opportunity to hear the updated schedule on Sound Transit's plans for this long discussed extension.  For a comprehensive history dating back to a 2004 expansion study, please visit Sound Transit's Tacoma Link Expansion page.  From the press release:

Sound Transit to host open houses on Tacoma Link expansion

August 21, 2012
Public invited to provide input on possible transit corridor and mode options for expanding Tacoma Link system
Sound Transit will conduct two open houses on Wednesday, August 22 as part of an early scoping process to solicit options for expanding the 1.6-mile Tacoma Link system that now operates between the Tacoma Dome and Theater District stations.

The events will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the People's Community Center at 1602 South Martin Luther King Jr. Way and from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome Station Plaza at 424 East 25th Street.

[Full release here]

Tacoma Streetcar Forum, July 23rd

What Lies Ahead for the Tacoma Streetcar?

To find out, join Transportation Choice Coalition, Downtown: On the Go! and the City of Tacoma for a comprehensive update on rail transit in Tacoma.

In 2008 voters approved $80 million for Tacoma Link extension. Just how much rail can that buy? What's the difference between streetcars and light rail? What are the benefits of building more rail transit in Tacoma?

Learn the answers to these questions and more from panelists: Greg Walker, planning and development director at Sound Transit; Alisa O'Hanlon, government relations coordinator at the City of Tacoma; and Bill LaBorde, policy director at Transportation Choices Coalition.

Join us for a discussion on everything you need to know about the future of streetcars in Tacoma!


WHEN: Friday, July 23, 12:00pm - 1:30pm

WHERE: University of Washington Tacoma Campus, Garretson Woodruff Pratt Building, Tacoma Room (Room 320)

Special thanks to the City of Tacoma and Downtown: On the Go! for sponsoring the Tacoma Streetcar Friday Forum. As always, feel free to bring your lunch.

The Transportation Choice Coalition Friday Forum Series is sponsored by:
PLATINUM
Vulcan Inc.

GOLD
CH2M Hill
Parsons Brinckerhoff
The Boeing Company
HDR Inc.

SILVER
HNTB Corporation
Wilbur Smith Associates

July 16th City Center Luncheon focuses on Transportation

Transportation is a hot topic in Tacoma this summer. The Chamber’s July 16th City Center Luncheon, sponsored by CH2M Hill, will feature the latest updates on the biggest projects including: Sound Transit’s Sounder extension construction, Pierce Transit’s redesign plans for downtown, preliminary plans for the Prairie Line walking and biking trail, car sharing opportunities, walking maps, parking and more. Register Now! This City Center Luncheon is not to be missed.

When: Friday, July 16th, 2010
Time: 11:30 (registration) 12:00-1:30 (program)
Location: Pacific Grill Event Center, 1530 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402.
Please consider walking, biking or carpooling to this event.
If you must drive, validated parking is available in the Convention Center Garage.

This quarter’s luncheon will feature:

Sound Transit’s South Sound Projects
Sound Transit, the Puget Sound’s regional transit provider is busy planning for investments in Pierce County. The Sounder extension to Lakewood, Tacoma LINK/ streetcar planning and the light rail extension from SeaTac airport are all part or Sound Transit’s plans for the future in the South Sound. Join us to learn more.

Pierce Transit Redesign: the plan for downtown
Over the past year Pierce Transit and the community have been reevaluating the 30-year old bus route structure and services and planning for the future. Through this planning effort, downtown Tacoma is slated for major route changes that will improve efficiency and service for downtown residents, employees, students and visitors.

Prairie Line Trail: preliminary plans
The Prairie Line Trail is an urban biking and walking trail planned for the abandoned Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad corridor that bisects downtown Tacoma. The Prairie Line Trail is slated to be transformed into 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.

Car Sharing: opportunities for downtown, UWT, UPS and PLU
Car sharing is an alternative to car rentals and car ownership and it’s in the works to site in downtown Tacoma and at local universities. Car sharing programs enable residents and biking, walking, transit, carpool and vanpool commuters access to a car when they need it, reducing transportation costs and eliminating excuses to alternative commuting.

Update on Paid Parking in Downtown Tacoma
Parking Pay Stations are coming to the streets of downtown September 20th (http://www.tacomaparking.com/). The implementation of paid on street parking is an effort on behalf of the City of Tacoma and downtown businesses to insure that customers, clients and visitors to downtown can find on street parking in proximity to shops, restaurants and cultural activities. Join us to lean more about the details of the parking meter implementation and alternatives to parking on street in downtown.

Spaces are limited. Register today by contacting Cathy Thompson, (253) 627.2175, cathyt@tacomachamber.org or online


Prices: $225 Corporate Tables of 8
$20 Ambassadors pre-paid
$25 Members pre-paid
$30 Members at the door
$35 Non-members/Walk-Ins

Memorial Service Honors Lakewood Officers

The BIA has received many requests for information about Tuesday’s memorial service. This blog will be updated as more information becomes available.

A memorial to honor Lakewood Police Officers Mark Renninger, Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. in the Tacoma Dome. More than 20,000 members of the law enforcement community, emergency response agencies and the public are anticipated to attend and celebrate the lives of these officers.

The Memorial Service is open to the public, however seating will be limited seated due to the anticipated number of law enforcement and other public safety personnel attending. Officials recommend the public select a spot along the processional route to show their respect or attend a memorial service remote site, such as the Pacific Lutheran University’s Olson Auditorium.

The procession will begin at approximately 10 a.m. at the McChord Air Force Base North Gate. It will proceed through Lakewood to the Lakewood Police Department, where the families of the slain officers and the Lakewood Police will join the procession. They will proceed from there to the Tacoma Dome.

Procession Route
· Leave McChord Air Force Base, North Gate, north on South Tacoma Way (Lakewood)
· South on South Tacoma Way Extension (Lakewood)
· West on 108th St. (Lakewood)
· North on Lakeview Drive SW (Lakewood)
· West on 100th St. SW (Lakewood)
· North on Lakewood Dr. SW (Lakewood) stopping at the Lakewood Police Department
· East on Steilacoom Blvd. (Lakewood)
· North on South Tacoma Way (Lakewood, Tacoma)
· East on East 26th St. (Tacoma)
· South on East C St. (Tacoma)
· Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D Street, Tacoma

Parking
Please note that the parking lots at the Tacoma Dome will be reserved for the memorial procession vehicles and other emergency service vehicles.

Parking is available in the garages and surface lots in downtown Tacoma. The Tacoma LINK Light Rail, which runs every 15 minutes, connects downtown parking lots and garage to the Tacoma Dome.

Public Transportation
The Public is encouraged to take public transportation to the Tacoma Dome. Pierce Transit will operate limited bus service from two alternative parking locations, to the Tacoma Dome. This service will be free to the public. Bus service will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the last bus will leave each location at 12 noon. Pierce Transit will provide return trips immediately after the memorial service. The public is strongly encouraged to utilize these off-site parking lots.

The two off-site parking areas are:
· Cheney Stadium, 2502 South Tyler Street, Tacoma
· Tacoma Mall – North Parking Lot (across the parking lot from Macy’s, near the Firestone Tire store)

Memorial Service Remote Site - Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University will be opening Olson Auditorium to the public as a remote site for Tuesday's Memorial Service. Officials are encouraging the public to view the memorial from this location.

Parking is available at the Church of All Nations, 111 112th St. E. Shuttles will transport to the auditorium beginning at 9:30 a.m. to the beginning of the memorial ceremony at 1 p.m. The shuttle service will resume after the ceremony to transport people back to the parking area. The auditorium is at the intersection of 124th St. South and 10th Ave. South in Parkland. The doors will open at 9 a.m.

Transportation Forum a Huge Success!!

Last Friday's transportation forum, titled "Transportation in Tacoma for the 21st Century", included the insights of Tacoma's and the Puget Sound Region's top decision makers in transportation - Eric Anderson, City Manager of Tacoma; Lynne Griffith, CEO of Pierce Transit; Ric Ilgenfritz, Executive Director of Planning for Sound Transit; and David Hiller, Advocacy Director for the Cascade Bicycle Club - gleaned through a rigorous 1.5 hour question-and-answer session.

Over sixty people packed the Simpson Room of the Tacoma Chamber, a co-host of the event, to hear the thoughts of these transportation leaders. Topics such as the future of the Tacoma streetcar system, the Pierce Transit redesign process, collaboration and integration with Olympia and Intercity Transit, and more were covered as the audience peppered the speakers with thoughtful and passionate questions.

Perhaps the key question of the event, and the one that wrapped it up, came from Ben Ferguson of BLRB architects. Ben questioned the speakers on the establishment and communication of a broader vision beyond that of each individual organization represented. When the speakers answered his question with more emphasis of their own organizations' visions as well as a mention of the Puget Sound Regional Council's Transportation 2040 (which is meant to be a vision for the region), Ben pushed back again, challenging the leaders to "inspire us" with a vision into which we all can buy.

As is often the case, the "heart" of an event's topic is gotten at not through the leaders/experts invited to speak, but by an audience member willing to speak up.

Because of the success of this and the October forums, Transportation Choices Coalition along with its regular co-hosts the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Tacoma will continue to host Friday forums in 2010, hoping to facilitate a discussion about transportation topics that are inspiring. Further dates and topics will be announced on this blog and on Transportation Choices Coalition's website.

We hope that you'll continue to join us in bringing transportation to the forefront of public discussion!

Transportation in Tacoma for the 21st Century

You're Invited to a Brown Bag Lunch & Interactive Discussion

on Friday, November 13th at 12:00pm

As we plan for the future of our transportation system, Tacoma and the South Sound face many tough decisions. How do parking policies affect the city’s goal to activate the streets with people and commerce? How do we extend the Tacoma Streetcar system? How do we reshape Pierce Transit’s bus system? How does the City best connect regionally? How can we plan for a multimodal future?

To get at these answers and more, The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, the City of Tacoma, Transportation Choices Coalition, Cross District Association, Tacoma Wheelmen, and others will host a brown bag lunch and interactive discussion with Tacoma’s transportation policy-makers, including:
Eric Anderson, City Manager, City of Tacoma
Lynne Griffith, CEO, Pierce Transit
Ric Ilgenfritz, Planning Director, Sound Transit
David Hiller, Advocacy Director, Cascade Bicycle Club

Open to all—bring your lunch and your questions!

Event Details:

Friday, Nov. 13th, 2009 12:00pm Simpson Room Tacoma Chamber 950 Pacific Ave.

RSVP… andrew@transportationchoices.org