Andrew Becherer weighs in on this Tacoma Urbanist post about how Tacoma neighborhoods are demanding streetcars as part of ST2. The Tacoma neighborhoods are demanding that any Sound Transit proposal in the future must contain funding for a streetcar system in Tacoma connecting its neighborhood mixed use centers”.
Strong language. We’ve been following the Tacoma Streetcar issue for a while now, and I personally love the idea. My question is this: is that streetcar part of a regional transit network? If it is, then it could be part of a Sound Transit package. The Tacoma Link car in place certainly does, as it connects Sounder, Sound Transit express bus, and Pierce Transit buses to downtown Tacoma. The First Hill Streetcar would provide a similar service for the employment centers on First Hill and Capitol Hill (the third largest in the State after Downtown Seattle and downtown Bellevue). Would a major network in Tacoma do that, or would it simply connect the neighborhoods in downtown? That’s the question that would need to be answered before it could be considered by Sound Transit.
Yes it would! Streetcars are really good for the neighborhood focus with frequent stops. It may not be as cool or needed as full-scale regional light rail, but nonetheless it is good for what it does.
What do they want to cut from the South King subarea? Sounder service? Express buses?
Every project sounds great until you have to prioritize it with something else.
Naturally you would want any new streetcar to intersect with the existing streetcar. Tacoma, however, is very different from Seattle.
Tacoma is essentially suburban development wrapped in city limits, with some high-density nodes, and some real can’t-get-there-from-here obstacles to mobility. Most parts of Tacoma have significant parcels of undeveloped land.
For example, a streetcar high on the hillside from U of W-Tacoma to the hospitals would pass entire city blocks of grassy slope facing Mount Rainier. The climb to reach these blocks is almost too much for a pedestrian, so streetcar access would be very desirable for development.
The best way to connect such a line would be to extend the existing streetcar out past Stadium to the hospitals, and up to U of W-Tacoma at the south end. I’m sure the people in Tacoma have their own ideas about what to do. tacomastreetcar.org has some real nice maps under their tab ‘routes’.
In any case, a streetcar is more properly visualized as a circulator than as part of a network. If you run them fast enough for a person who wants to travel five or ten miles, you entirely lose the neighborhood building street part of the system.
Two major roles of streetcars in Tacoma would be for in-city commutes, and to make it possible to move about town without moving your car. People who have worked in Tacoma will know what I’m talking about.
It only goes to show that once you build effective mass transit in an area, everyone suddenly wants it.
The only way to get ST2 passed is to finish the Airport Link, and put it on the ballot after a few months.
I think Tacoma should spend city money on streetcars unless they go to regional employment centers like the hospital
I think Tacoma should spend city money on streetcars unless they go to regional employment centers like the hospital
…kinda like Portland.
All of the line so far has been paid for with local funds.
The new expansion, which will double (almost) the current 3+ mile line will be a split cost with the feds. It should be interesting since it is required to be more efficent and not so morbidly slow as the current one.
Mind you, the current PDX streetcar, even though it uses the same equipment as Tacoma’s, is about half as fast. Tacoma’s average is 10mph, Portland’s average 6mph or less.
Tacoma however would receive a great kick in liveability with streetcar additions. Especially going up on the hill and down – let’s say 6th street.
There is one advantage Tacoma has vs Portland. Tacoma is on it’s own line, Portland is like Seattle’s
I would love to see the Tacoma Streetcar go to at least Tacoma Community College or as far as 19th and Jackson Avenue (Who knows, Titlow as the future end point would be interesting…)
Most importantly though the Streetcar should serve the Tacoma Mall
Thanks for the link to the Tacoma Urbanist and for covering the issue.
Would a major network in Tacoma do that, or would it simply connect the neighborhoods in downtown? That’s the question that would need to be answered before it could be considered by Sound Transit.
I think the general feeling is to connect as many neighborhoods as possible.
The problem with the previous Sound Transit proposals is that they have made Tacoma a place to drive and transit to and from and through but have done little to help the city.
The exception has been the Sound Transit Link in Tacoma.
There have been a number of Tacoma neighborhood councils who have supported streetcars:
Central Neighborhood Council
Hilltop Action Coaltion
New Tacoma Neighborhood Council
North End Neighborhood Council
Tacoma City Council
Tacoma Transit and Parking Committee
West End Neighborhood Council
Here is the Tacoma’s North End Neighborhood position on streetcars:
Re: Letter of Support of North End Neighborhood for Tacoma Intracity Streetcar Network in Next Sound Transit Proposal
Sound Transit Board,
In 2007, the North End Neighborhood Association voted to support a streetcar proposal in a letter to the Tacoma City Council. We wrote:
In cities as different as Dallas, Portland, Memphis and Issaquah, the cost of this particular form of mass transit proved minimal compared to the benefits reaped by its implementation…
Streetcars create better ridership than bus service, which will reduce automobile traffic and parking pressure. They complement a pedestrian streetscape, thus helping make neighborhoods more livable.
The offer clear routing for both visitors and residents, and they help connect folks to the regional transit systems and to different neighborhoods. They have also proven themselves to be an effective economic development tool.
With the Failure of Proposition 1, we support Sound Transit placing an intracity streetcar network within the city and believe that this must be in the next Sound Transit proposal with prompt funding.
We agree with Tacoma Streetcar’s statement that “…any Sound Transit proposal in the future must contain funding for a streetcar system in Tacoma connecting its neighborhood mixed use centers” and “the streetcar system should have an aggressive timeline, commencing on the passing of the ballot measure.”
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Phillips
Chair, North End Neighborhood Council
No, Tacoma streetcar line or lines would not be regional transit (ST’s mission) any more than South Lake Union Streetcar is regional transit. City lines are city lines, whether they be bus or streetcar.
ST’s mission is Regional Transit, and since ST has to spend some significant $$ in Pierce County, under Subarea Equity, then why not extend the existing Tacoma Link northwards? It could get to Fife or Federal Way, and in the next investment, a ST Phase 3 plan, connect up with Link light rail to the Airport and downtown Seattle.
Thanks for supporting the Tacoma Streetcar vision! I just wanted to offer a few thoughts:
Much of the South Sound does not have the density to justify the cost of a massive light rail system such as was done from Seattle to the airport. Eventually it will, but there’s a ways to go.
In the meantime, Sound Transit can act with a “Regional mission” by building “starter” or “feeder” streetcar systems – just as it wants to do with a streetcar on First Hill in Seattle and like it did with the downtown LINK streetcar.
Many in Seattle take it for granted that they have a transportation department. Most cities, Tacoma included, are lucky just to have a planner on staff with transportation planning skills! If we are going to build ANY meaningful rail-based mass transit solutions for the region, Sound Transit has to be involved.