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 

$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

Resident Engagement this Week - Be Informed, Give Input, and Have Some Fun!

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

That phrase is actually an old proverb, but you probably know it as the sentence that Jack types over and over again during his psychotic break in the movie The Shining. If you are the literary type, you might remember the phrase shows up in Jack Kerouac’s novel Big Sur.

Well, don’t worry, nothing that heavy or scary here - just a full week of ways to have fun and to “go to work” as an engaged citizen in downtown Tacoma.

Because, all play and no work make Tacoma a dull place.

Bike Train: Bike Me Out to the Ballgame

June 24, 2015 at 5:30 pm

​The Bike Committee is going to bike train from downtown to Cheney Stadium to watch the Tacoma Rainiers play the Reno Aces. The game starts at 7:05 and anyone who bikes to the game gets a special ticket rate of $11.50, which gets you a seat, a hot dog, a bag of chips, and a bottle of water.  Just tell them at the ticket counter that you biked to the game. If you want to join the bike train, meet at S. 11^th and Pacific Avenue.

ST-3 Tacoma Open House

June 24, 2015 at 5:30 pm

Good and plenty of public transit is an important factor for a thriving urban region. You can show up at this open house and give your input to The Sound Transit Board on which projects they should study as final candidates for the ST3 public vote that could be happening as soon as November 2016. The presentation will begin at 6 pm and the open house will take place at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center at 1500 Broadway.

Public Hearing on Draft of Paid Leave Rules

June 25, 2015 at 10:00 am

You have probably heard by now and I will likely be writing more about this soon, but beginning  in February 2016, Tacoma employers will be required to provide up to 24 hours of Paid Leave annually to employees within the City of Tacoma. You can read about the paid leave rules and regulations that have been drafted for review at cityoftacoma.org/paidleave. You can attend the public hearing, and provide your feedback at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch – Olympic Room at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South.

1st Annual Tacoma Waterfront Crab Feed

June 25, 2015 at 5:30 pm

If you are allergic to crab, well, I feel really bad for you and you definitely shouldn’t go to this event. But, for the rest of you – strap on your bib and join the Tacoma Waterfront Association (TWA) this Friday for the first ever Waterfront Crab Feed fundraiser at the Foss Waterway Seaport at 705 Dock Street.

Beyond eating all the crab you can, there will be chances to bid on or win prizes at the silent auction, raffles, and a ring toss. This fundraiser will be an opportunity to highlight Tacoma’s waterfront and the community and businesses within it. The event will feature prominent figures in the waterfront speaking to the latest activities and plans for the future of Tacoma’s waterfront. This fundraiser will help TWA continue its mission of making the waterfront enjoyable and accessible.

You can get your tickets now at: TWA-CrabFeed.brownpapertickets.com!

Breaking News - $75 million Federal Grant for Tacoma Link Expansion in 2016 Budget Proposal

Sound Transit just announced that the The Tacoma Link may be receiving a $75 million federal grant in fiscal year 2016. This comes as great news for local downtown businesses who want the Tacoma Link to grow and facilitate ridership to the downtown corridor. Easier access means economic growth for our region.This federal grant, also known as the Small Starts grant would act as a supplement to local tax revenues and other grants needed for construction of the 2.4 mile light rail expansion.

The Obama Administration proposed this federal grant supporting $74.99 federal funding and would provide the single largest funding for extending the Tacoma Link light rail line.Although, it does not end there this budget must next be approved by Congress. In 2008 voters approved the expansion of Tacoma Link in the 2 ballot measure and the Sound Transit Board has been diligently coalition building. 

Currently Sound Transit and the City have worked together to secure $13 million in grants for the City's contribution to the project. The 2.4-mile voter approved expansion requires approximately $75 million in Small Starts funding, $50 million in ST2 revenues, and $40 million from the City of Tacoma who is a key partner in the project. This alignment would expand the Tacoma Link from the Theater District to the Stadium and Hilltop districts with seven proposed stations. The Board is scheduled to review a final alignment and station locations this spring. 

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. 

Advocacy for Light Rail Stop

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

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.

RIDEshare Online Promotion until September 18th!

Did you know that Pierce Transit maintains a fleet of 300 vanpools serving a variety of employers and employees in Pierce County? Sixty of those vanpools serve Tacoma, with a large portion of those coming right Downtown.

Have you considered joining up with one of these vanpools for your commute? Well, now is the time to do it! The Washington State Ridesharing Organization and your local transit agency are pleased to bring you the annual Summer RideshareOnline.com promotion.

Register here, start or join a carpool or vanpool between August 10 and September 18, 2009, share the ride at least 2 days per week and you could be eligible to win a weekend getaway to Washington or Idaho for two - three days, two nights AND a $50 gas card for travel expenses.

If you are already registered in www.RideshareOnline.com, you are halfway to winning a prize! Just go to www.RideshareOnline.com, update your information if necessary and click on ‘Find Matches’. You'll be automatically included in the weekly drawings for a $50 gift card.

For more information about the promotion, go to http://www.rideshareonline.com/rsopromo8-09.htm.
For more information on Pierce County vanpools, go to http://www.piercetransit.org/rideshare/vanpool.htm.

Thanks for your support of ridesharing!

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.

LINK Light Rail Closed Next Week

Beginning Saturday, August 8th Tacoma Link light rail will be closed for several days for construction. During the closure, free special Tacoma Link buses will serve the light rail route on Pacific Avenue on a similar schedule as the train.

Pavement between rails on Commerce Street between South 9th and South 13th streets needs repair due to heavy use by bus and vehicular traffic. Other maintenance activity along the Tacoma Link route will be completed during the closure. To resume Tacoma Link service as quickly as possible, the City has approved 24/7 construction activity. This work may take up to nine days.

Access to businesses and parking lots on Commerce Street will be maintained at all times during construction. The construction activity on Commerce Street requires Pierce Transit bus service to be relocated to both sides of Pacific Avenue between South 9th and South 11th streets. On-street parking in this area will be suspended during construction.

For more information about Tacoma Link construction, contact Roger Iwata at roger.iwata@soundtransit.org or 206-689-4904.


A Printable rider alert poster is available here.

The Pierce Transit Department of Public Safety in conjunction with the Tacoma Police Department will be addressing the security concerns of the Light Rail Closure and moving from Commerce to Pacific.

Police:
There will be Tacoma Police officers conducting foot patrol in the temporary bus hub on Pacific from 12:00 PM to 12:30 AM

Uniformed Security:
Pierce Transit Security Officers will be riding the bus service along the Light Rail line. They will be working these buses for the majority of the service hours. This may change depending on the level of activity we observe. These officers were chosen to perform this function as they have been trained specifically for bus service and are plugged into our communication system and have the ability to talk to the Pierce Transit staff and TPD officers working for Pierce Transit directly. Additionally they are familiar with and are able to issue exclusions if necessary. They will also be performing their regular patrols at 10th and Commerce and Tacoma Dome Station.

Phone Information:
Pierce Transit Police (Non-Emergency) 253.983.3371
Security Office 253.983.2703 &2703
Security Supervisor’s Office: 253.983.3313

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!

Dump the Pump on June 18th

Pierce Transit is joining transit agencies across the country to ask those who’ve never tried public transportation to get on board with saving and take a new ride on Thursday, June 18th. Regular transit users are encouraged to make it a “zero drive” day, and only use transit.

Everyone is concerned about saving money and cutting down on expenses these days. And
as local gas prices again begin to creep up to $3 a gallon, one of the easiest ways to keep more money in your wallet is to park your car at home and hop on public transportation.

Once again this year, Pierce transit and the region’s other transportation agencies are urging residents to ride a bus, train, boat, bike, take a walk, or share the ride on Thursday, June 18, the fourth annual National Dump the Pump Day.

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the 2009 National Dump the Pump Day encourages people to ride public transportation to save money, protect the environment, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and improve our quality of life. APTA’s monthly Transit Savings Report consistently ranks the Seattle metropolitan area as one of the top ten regions for potential transit savings.

Here’s some more great info about Pierce Transit and the benefits on commuting by bus. Pierce Transit had nearly five million boardings this year by the end of April 2009, continuing to maintain historic ridership levels that began with record high gas prices during the summer of 2008. Pierce County residents, who continue to utilize Pierce Transit’s fixed route, express, or vanpool services at least three days a week, can save more than $1,000 annually by leaving their cars at home.

There are also the environmental benefits. Nationwide, public transportation saves 900,000 automobile fill-ups each day – 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline per year. And switching to a 100 percent clean, Compressed Natural Gas powered public transportation system like Pierce Transit can reduce individual carbon emissions by 20 pounds per day or 4,800 pounds per year.

Visit http://www.piercetransit.org/ for more information.

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.