12/30/2023 0 Comments City of tacoma traffic plan![]() Pierce Transit’s explanation for the different lane types. ![]() In the years that construction should have been occurring, the plan was cut down and down. But the current state of the project is a shadow of its former self. Due to COVID delays and rising costs, the opening was pushed back a full five years to 2027. Surprise, surprise, the BRT did not open in 2022. The following year, the Sound Transit Board approved the project and began designing the route, with service planned to open in 2022. Pierce Transit notes that Route 1 accounts for 12% of activity for their entire system, indicating just how huge of an impact a faster, dedicated transit line could have. The project aims to replace Pierce Transit’s most heavily used route, Route 1 (along SR-7/Pacific Avenue), with a 14.4 mile corridor to connect Downtown Tacoma to Spanaway. In November 2016, Washington voters approved Sound Transit 3, a measure that provided funding for a number of transit projects, with about $60 million going to Tacoma’s bus rapid transit (BRT) project. The fares will be implemented when the extension fully opens, so enjoy your free rides while you can. Additionally, Sound Transit aims to work with local human services agencies to identify individuals that would benefit from the ORCA LIFT reduced fare program and mitigate financial burden. The $2 adult fare aligns with the current Pierce Transit bus fare, simplifying things for travelers. $1.00 ORCA LIFT (per the current Board-approved pilot).This past October, the Sound Transit Board approved a fare schedule: Currently, the T Line is fare-free thanks to a partnership with a downtown Tacoma business association. As Sound Transit works to solve issues, testing of the streetcars and rail grind to smooth the tracks will continue during off-hours.įinally, fares will be coming to the T Line in 2023. Hopefully, the delay isn’t too severe, but Timm did note in her announcement that Sound Transit’s cushion for opening has been depleted, indicating they may need to request additional resources in order to complete the project. Track smoothing occurring near I-705 last year (Sound Transit) Additionally, there have been a number of overnight crews conducting loud rail grinding - not a good way to get community buy-in, Sound Transit. It must be frustrating for residents near the project to constantly have to adapt to the changing construction conditions. I have signed up for Hilltop Extension updates and received construction alerts seemingly every other week in the second half of 2022. On behalf of everyone at Sound Transit, we share your feelings of urgency to complete construction.” Timm seemed sensitive to the concerns by residents over the delays, “With this project’s location on city streets in Tacoma, construction impacts have been felt strongly by residents and businesses on the alignment. But in early December, a structural issue was found in one part of the extension, being serious enough that it warranted outside track experts to be called in to investigate. In an announcement in December 2022, Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm said throughout the Fall, a number of issues were discovered and addressed throughout the expansion by construction teams. The expansion was originally planned to open in the first quarter of 2023, but unfortunately it appears that the opening may be delayed. One of the new Streetcars exiting the service station for testing (Kevin Le)
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