Last month, two neighborhood councils reaffirmed their support for a city-wide streetcar network and the desire to see a LINK extension on the next Sound Transit Ballot measure. In his letter to Sound Transit, Jonathan Phillips, Chair of the North End Neighborhood Council, wrote, “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.”

Tacoma Streetcar sent a letter to Sound Transit in early February urging a 2008 ballot measure. In it, Tacoma Streetcar requested that any Sound Transit proposal contain an extension of Tacoma’s LINK and that it be constructed with an aggressive timeline, as opposed to 25 years as contained in the previous ballot measure which failed.

Link: Stadium Business District letter

Within the next few decades, it is expected that several thousand new residents will make Tacoma their home. This and the emphasis to attract outside tourists creates a very real need to create a transportation that will appeal to those that prefer not to ride the bus. With renewed investment occurring in Tacoma’s neighborhoods, including downtown, it makes sense to create a transportation for sustainable growth.

Many urban planners recognize that the future of a metropolis depends on the vitality of its downtown core and inner city neighborhoods. Let this core – the heart and soul of the entire region – deteriorate, and the metropolitan area is sapped of strength and vigor. This realization has resulted in the “smart growth” concept, which seeks to limit urban sprawl, reduce traffic bottlenecks, and increase mobility in our growing cities. All across North America, historic streetcars are being reintroduced to city streets, offering residents and visitors an additional transportation choice while simultaneously revitalizing communities.
Cities with historic streetcars in operation are Tucson, AZ; San Jose, San Francisco, and San Pedro, CA; Denver, and Fort Collins, CO; Tampa, FL; New Orleans, LA; Lowell, MA; Charlotte, NC; El Reno, OK; Astoria, Lake Oswego, and Portland, OR; Memphis, TN; Dallas and Galveston, TX; Issaquah, Seattle, and Yakima, WA; and Kenosha, WI. In Canada, historic streetcars are found in Kenosha, Vancouver, Edmonton, Nelson, and Whitehorse. Cities with streetcar lines under construction are Little Rock, AR, and Philadelphia, PA. Cities actively planning proposed streetcar systems include San Diego and Sacramento, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Savannah, GA; Sioux City, IA; Philadelphia, PA; and Fort Worth, TX.

This is a unique opportunity to implement much overdue investment in Tacoma’s neighborhoods,” stated Board President Morgan Alexander. He further asserted “a Tacoma LINK extension connecting our neighborhoods will give voters the best bang for the buck in our great city.”

In a letter to Sound Transit officials sent last week, Tacoma Streetcar supported a downtown LINK extension as part of the ballot proposal.

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

Eric Anderson, City of Tacoma City Manager
Bill Evans, Former City Councilmember
John Ladenburg, Pierce County Executive
Tom Stenger, Former City Councilmember

NEED: A streetcar line will provide an important, easy-to-build connection to regional transit systems, allowing the redevelopment of business districts as pedestrian-focused neighborhoods. Moreover, streetcars will reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips throughout the city. Fewer cars mean less pollution.

PROPOSAL: This proposal is for a fleet of vintage or replica streetcars running throughout the city. The proposed routes would connect with regional light rail, downtown Link, and would connect neighborhoods together in a way that currently does not exist today. Routes could be developed in phases to spread out the cost over time.

Within the next few decades, it is expected that several thousand new residents will make Tacoma their home. This and the emphasis to attract outside tourists creates a very real need to create a transportation that will appeal to those that prefer not to ride the bus. With renewed investment occurring in Tacoma’s neighborhoods, including downtown, it makes sense to create a transportation for sustainable growth. Many urban planners recognize that the future of a metropolis depends on the vitality of its downtown core and inner city neighborhoods. Let this core – the heart and soul of the entire region – deteriorate, and the metropolitan area is sapped of strength and vigor. This realization has resulted in the “smart growth” concept, which seeks to limit urban sprawl, reduce traffic bottlenecks, and increase mobility in our growing cities. All across America, historic streetcars are being reintroduced to city streets, offering residents and visitors an additional transportation choice while simultaneously revitalizing communities.

Other cities with historic streetcars in operation include: Tucson, AZ; San Jose, San Francisco, and San Pedro, CA; Denver, and Fort Collins, CO; Tampa, FL; New Orleans, LA; Lowell, MA; Charlotte, NC; El Reno, OK; Astoria, Lake Oswego, and Portland, OR; Memphis, TN; Dallas and Galveston, TX; Issaquah, Seattle, and Yakima, WA; and Kenosha, WI. In Canada, historic streetcars are found in Kenosha, Vancouver, Edmonton, Nelson, and Whitehorse. Cities with streetcar lines under construction include: Little Rock, AR, and Philadelphia, PA. Cities actively planning proposed streetcar systems include San Diego and Sacramento, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Savannah, GA; Sioux City, IA; Philadelphia, PA; and Fort Worth, TX.