The 2010 update to the plan has pleased the Environmental and Public Works Committee so much that it was recently decided to set the time of November 16th at 5:30pm for a public hearing of the plan. In the plan there are a number of categories of funding. I'm no expert on this, so bare with me as I explain what I have observed in my brief exploration of this document.
Arterial Streets
Moral of the category is that full replacement of pothole infested streets is expensive! Almost $70 million in unfunded needs for full replacement of streets has been identified. And keep in mind that there are only 29 projects total in this category! That's about $3.7 million per project and most of them are for mere sections of street - Alaska from 56th to 72nd; Stadium Way from 9th to Tacoma Ave; A direct access ramp from I-5 to Tacoma Mall Blvd.
Nonmotorized
This is where a bunch of trails and the Mobility Master Plan fall under. Unfortunately most if these projects are mostly unfunded. As for the Mobility Master Plan, the City is planning on allocating about $1.5 million on short term Bike and Ped improvements, but still leaving nearly $12.5 million unfunded.
Bridges
Bridges are also expensive. Even more so than streets. The bulk of the expenses however comes from three bridges. The Hylebos Bridge has just $13 million remaining through 2011 and then should be ready to go. The Murray Morgan is fully funded to the tune of $57,077,000. And the Puyallup Bridge which already has $23 million for the western part is seeking an additional $8.5 million for the western part and another $9 million for the eastern part.
Business Districts
There are a variety of odds and ends included in here specific to each business district. It can include beatification, sidewalk repair among other things.
Landscaping/Streetscape
Only two projects in here. The first is the Pacific Ave Streetscape and the second is the Urban Forestry Program.
LIDs
This is an interesting category. LID is short for Local Improvement District where the city will collect a property assessment to be used on a nearby transportation project. Those property assessments make up a very large sum of money. There are a number of placeholders here for potential lids, but already there are 24 identified LIDs. Some highlights from these include the Broadway Streetscape and some work around Point Ruston.
Neighborhoods
Similar to the Business Districts there are again a number of odds and ends included in here. Some include traffic calming and there is also a wayfinding program as well.
Sidewalks
This one kinda speaks for itself. Improve a sidewalk if it is mangled up, or build one if it doesn't exist, but typically only at critical areas - such as under SR 16. Some public stairways are included a bit here too.
Special Projects
A very special category indeed. There are a number of Tacoma Rail-related items here, the Suaro Site, and some Tacoma Link stuff as well. Of particular interesting note is the Stadium Way Streetcar Line listed as unfunded at a cost of $37,700,000. The project status for this reads as follows:
This project is currently being evaluated through a mini-alternatives analysis being conducted by the City, Sound Transit, and Pierce Transit. This study, to be completed in December 2010, will determine if the extension route will be along Stadium Drive or an alternate route.Also worth noting is that the reconstruction of Stadium Way is already fully funded.
Streetlighting
Most self-explanatory category name in the document.
Street Rehabilitation
Although there is nearly $17 million committed to street rehabilitation around the city, there is still an additional $24 that Tacoma could use in this effort.
Traffic Signals
Some repair work of signal stuff and new signals at 30th & Alder, 30th & Orchard, Port of Tacoma & Lincoln and a mystery location TBD!!