The “signature” trash cans is what really caught my eye. Remember a couple years ago when Chicago put cows all over downtown? Well, what if we do something crazy with trash/recycling. How about…oh, Tall Ships? Or something else Tacoma is famous for, brewing, so beer bottles…hmmm, not kid friendly. How about rain drop shaped bins? Something by someone in the glass museum?

I’d like to see some sort of neighborhood-specific designs as well.
First, we need the “Tacoma” design. It can be used in all areas of town that don’t fall in a specific neighborhood.

So, we can have a Downtown design. A Lincoln design. A proctor design, a 6th ave design, etc. Not only is there a consistent theme in your area (like an Asian theme in the Lincoln District), but there is also an obvious city-wide plan this way.

So “WWII concrete pill boxes” are okay as trash/recycling bins, but not tree containers? I’d rather have less concrete than simply a shifting of shape and location.

This might be off topic, but PLEASE don’t forget about separate bike paths built into any new sidewalk changes. Painted bike lanes are scary and dangerous! Progressive changes such as built in bike paths would truly make Tacoma stand out.

I don’ the purpose in planting such short trees. The gangly trees are much more attractive and provide needed shade.

Can anyone tell me more about this Club Juno place? I went to their website but did not see any real indications that bands play there except for a rockaraoke night.

Let’s hope this conversation keeps going – and any disagreements as to aesthetics don’t become issues.

Thorax O’Tool’s neighborhood specific suggestion is great, as is Amy’s incorporation of bike lanes into the effort.

34th Avenue, a possible bike route just south of I-5, would be a great one for both, especially where it crosses Pacific!

Also, Japanese Maples, in my limited ‘rogue gardener’ experience do seem to an addition to the tree list that Tacoma could use to it’s benefit.

A median down Pacific south of I-5 would definitely be a bonus.

My first memory of Tacoma was of heading to Rainier via Hwy 7 – not particularly a positive one. A greenbelt would help.

Median ‘Greenbelts’ can also help to speed traffic, only allowing left turns at select locations. This benefit though is small.

The design does require decisions about who gets left turn access and who does not, as well as appropriately placed u-turn widenings, as in UP.

The biggest traffic speeding effect might actually be to shut off all minor streets at Pacific – to right turns as well as left.

Such a strategy would probably be viewed as an improvement to near-arterial residents. However businesses might be concerned about the lack of left turn access.

I think the benefits of the physical improvement will outweigh that of a minor reduction in access, however improving ciruculation at major business districts would be worthy of design time consideration.

For example, close off all residential streets at Pacific, except for 34th, 38th, 48th, 56th and 72nd. At 38th and 72nd include additional ‘slip access’ routes at 37th and 74th???

Personally, I’d also like to see stretches of property turned from residential or low-value commercial property to a greenbelt. The economics of that are not likely to be justified, sans an expansion of the non-freeway route to 6 lanes.

Again, this is south of I-5.

Don’t forget though that it isn’t just a repaving of Pacific that is prompting this discussion. The whole Sounder crossing issue needs to be resolved (as well as the ommission of a bike trail crossing) and the removal and re-building of the I-5 bridge in the next phase of that project.