More on Sound Transit Crossing Pacific (23. September 2006, 06:54 by Derek Young) ~ Which Way Do We Go?
Several days ago we talked about the potential that Sound Transit would be sending heavy rail traffic across Pacific as part of its expansion south. Things are still up in the air. We received a postcard last night stating that Sound Transit is still studying its options to connect the Tacoma Dome Station with M Street. The best part is that they’re looking for community input.
What: Community Open House
When: Thursday, October 5th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Where: Freighthouse Square – Phoenix Room
Staff will be on hand to seek input and answer questions about:
- The feasibility of a new route option and overpass between Tacoma Dome Station and M Street
- A proposed track overpass at Pacific Avenue that eliminates the at-grade street crossing
- Potential changes to South Tacoma Way and street revisions nearby
- Preliminary air, traffic, and noise analysis findings
- Summary results from a design workshop held earlier in the day
Y’all seem good at that community input… Any thoughts so far?
More info? Check out the postcard here (pdf).
Previously on Exit133
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I say give us a tunnel! Why does Seattle get to have all of the tunnels?
Also I don’t know if this is connected but the Tacoma Design Market/Center (?) is remodeling a new location on Center Street. Any one know if their current location is part of the rail plan?
1 | Posted by jake | Sep 23, 02:38 PM
Some people on the South end of Downtown feel Sound Transit’s current proposal will be “more determental than the Withrope.†I hope everyone takes this opprutunity to get involved in issues in other parts of Downtown.
Get to know some of the other people who fight for quality planning in Downtown Tacoma. Maybe next time they will come to your aid against the City Council.
2 | Posted by Marty | Sep 23, 04:47 PM
ST and the city are looking at several options to provide a grade seperated crossing for Pacific Avenue. This is in contrast to earlier plans that called only for an at grade crossing. There are a number of engineering issues to resolve plus being able to minimize impacts to several property owners (Star Ice and Tacoma Rescue Mission to name two).
ST has a good track record of balancing the complexity of building new rail / light rail infrastructure with that of the community. I think they will be able to come up with an engineering solution to provide a grade seperated crossing. Coming up with the additional $$$ to build it may be another thing.
3 | Posted by KP | Sep 24, 10:00 PM
Wow. I finally got to ride Portland’s light rail this past weekend. It blew me away. I think everyone should be required to go down and check it out.
I think what is complicating matters in Tacoma is the idea of Tacoma Rail, Amtrak, AND Sound Transit all using the same rail. If the South extension through Nalley Valley were for light rail only then a lot of concerns over cost, impact, grade seperation, etc. would go away, based on my experience with Portland’s system.
Light rail is lighter (thus “light”) and more flexible than heavy rail and is relatively quite – much less noise than auto traffic.
The question then changes. Can Sound Transit, the City of Tacoma (Tacoma Rail), and Amtrak go back to the table and agree that the Nalley Valley corridor be used only light rail?
4 | Posted by morgan | Sep 26, 02:36 PM
Some people on the South end of Downtown feel Sound Transit’s current proposal will be “more determental than the Withrope.â€
Why would the proposed plan be detrimental?
What area of downtown would injured?
I hope everyone takes this opprutunity to get involved in issues in other parts of Downtown.
I think they might if they thought there was a concrete negative effect possible. and knew where it might occur. People are generally too busy to just become involved for the sake of doing so.
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