2009 was a banner year for changes in land use policy in Tacoma (pardoning the Luzon, of course). Mixed use centers got a boost in density, part of Downtown Tacoma was freed from parking requirements for new development and new parking meters were approved last year to go in this spring. This year is sure to be a fulcrum for transportation policy in Tacoma. It will be important to be sufficiently organized at our level to take advantage of State and Federal funds for transportation alternatives in 2010 and beyond.
2010 South Sound Transportation Calendar
January 1st
- ORCA Transition Complete for Pierce Transit, with a few exceptions (Pierce Transit)
- Draft Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan Open for Review (CoT Mobility Master Plan)
January 11th - First Pierce Transit Board Meeting of the Year
January 28th - Transportation Choices Coalition Lobbies for Transit in Olympia
February - A USDOT decision on the TIGER grant in February could cut years off the opening of Link’s S. 200th St. Station. This could have an impact on how soon Central Link can get to Pierce County. (Seattle Transit Blog / Transportation Choices Coalition)
March - Conceptual Plans for Pierce Transit Redesign Completed (PTTomorrow)
April
- Parking Meters go into service in Downtown Tacoma (Exit133)
- Pierce Transit returns to community with system redesign alternatives (PTTomorrow)
- Tacoma Link Alternatives Analysis is set to begin
Summer 2010
- D-To-M Street Sounder Extension Construction Begins (Sound Transit)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Way LID proposal submitted to property owners (no streetcar funds are included in this proposal at this time)
July 26th - Likely last day for signature submission for City of Tacoma Ballot Measure
November 2nd
- Likely ballot measure for Pierce Transit
- Potential ballot measure(s) for City of Tacoma Bike-Ped/Complete Streets improvements and streetcars.