Tacoma Streetcar Supports Link Expansion
Tacoma Streetcar, the non-profit organization that has been spearheading the creation of a streetcar system in Tacoma, announced their support of expanding the Link in Tacoma.
In a letter to Sound Transit, President (and Exit133 regular) Morgan Alexander requests:
Any Sound Transit Proposal contain an extension of Tacoma’s LINK with a goal to connect Tacoma’s mixed-use neighborhood centers. Preferably building on work already completed by Sound Transit to extend LINK both east to Portland Ave/Salishan and west to Stadium District/6th Ave.
Link to Tacoma Streetcar
Link to letter to Sound Transit (.pdf)
Filed under: Downtown Tacoma, Transportation, Neighborhoods, Link, Transit, Streetcar, Link Expansion
15 comments
N NSHDscott February 11, 2008
This is good news, and is a better approach than trying to connect it to SeaTac/Seattle, or just building more roads.
My only issue re: Morgan’s statement is that I understand the Link is unnecessarily heavy for intercity transit, and we’d save money and/or be able to build a longer route with lighter-weight streetcars.
On the other hand, one positive to extending the Link is that you won’t have to get off one type of “train” to get on another. The Link is also awesome because it has its own right-of-way and doesn’t have to stop at streetlights or for traffic, so it’s routes are very predictable and quick. Ride Seattle’s SLUT, which shares the road with cars, and you’ll feel like you’re on a bus. Hopefully an extended Link would be able to maintain right-of-way.
E Elliot February 12, 2008
Elliot here, your friendly neighborhood bicycle advocate. You’ll probably here this from me again, but I want to get a foot in the door of this conversation about bikes and streetcars. I’m all for public transportation, I take it every single day. However, I also ride my bike every day (on my way to my public transportation), and I think it’s important to remember that if done incorrectly, streetcar lines (the rails in particular) are absulute death traps for bicycles. So… Lets just remember, 5 years from now when we’re putting a street-car down 6th (wonderful!) let’s keep it in the center of the road where it belongs, not off to the right where the tracks will kill me.
Thanks! I like living.
D David K February 12, 2008
I like the Link having the right of way, but when is the city going to address the issue of their timed streetlight system? The system needs a complete overhaul to bring it into the present. Waiting at a red light on a completely empty street only to have the Link to by when it’s almost your turn then have to wait a complete red light cycle all over again is completely unnecessary. At least update the lights that cross paths with the Link!
D DavidS February 12, 2008
Can anyone refresh my memory as to why the Link was not originally built with a lighter weight system? It seems like this could hold some answers, or at least direction, when we start looking forward.
N Nick February 12, 2008
If I remember correctly, the Tacoma Link line is a heavier-than-necessary system because it was a case-study for the longer Seattle-SeaTac line. The idea was both to provide a proof of concept (to iron out all the kinks before investing a pile of cash on the bigger line). It was also done to allow for future compatibility so that as the regional light rail system is expanded, it could ultimately hook up to Tacoma’s system as well.
N NSHDscott February 12, 2008
I believe Nick is exactly right.
ST’s public statements were that building heavy would make it possible for Tacoma’s Link to hook up to the greater Seattle-SeaTac system.
The underlying reality is that they built an unnecessarily heavy and expensive Link as a warm-up to the Seattle line.
E Erik Hanberg February 12, 2008
Actually, I think that track gauges are different. If you wanted to hook the Tacoma Link to the same track that runs south from Seattle, you’d need to retrofit the Tacoma track.
B Ben February 12, 2008
Erik Hamberg, Really? Everything that I’ve read is in line with what Nick and NSHDscott have said. The Tacoma Link was built as a trial run for the Seattle-SeaTac-Tacoma (eventual at that time) line. Additionally, the tracks were supposed to line up such that the Seattle line could start around UW and eventually finish past the Dome. In addition to the heavier gauge track, the bedding was also considerably beefed up to handle the heavier tracks. The cost savings here should be considerable with lighter rail.
I think having different lines, which require commuters to change trains is inevitable. Hopefully the system can be organized well to have a handful of “hubs” where the trains meet.
C CJ February 12, 2008
PPP again!
G grubedoo February 12, 2008
No one uses the one we have now. Who says anyone will use it if it’s expanded? Especially those people who bitch about having to walk more than 2 blocks from their car to the grocery store or to work.
I personally love the idea of a streetcar system. Sadly, I think I’m in the minority of people who would actually use it. I think average joe american likes their car and would rather drive 2 miles out of the way than have to walk another block. Call me a pessimist …
M morgan February 12, 2008
I don’t know if I would go so far to say that no one uses the current system. I see people use it all day! I know I use it every chance I get. I hate driving!
Our 3-year-old loves to ride “Thomas” too. After going to the Children’s Museum, we walk down to 9th & Commerce, hop on the LINK and head over to Freighthouse Square for lunch. On the way back we stop by Hello Cupcake for a treat. Streetcars are fun and easy!
Streetcars are a missing piece to Tacoma’s economic development puzzle. Everything is connected to it: affordable housing, sustainability, reducing carbon emissions, obesity, walkable neighborhoods. The list goes on.
True, we’ll probably never give up our cars. But we have to start somewhere. If we are too set in our ways, then maybe our children and their children will be more able to make the change.
G grubedoo February 13, 2008
I didn’t know that streetcars made you fat.
T tomtuttle February 13, 2008
Thank you for the pdf link. $600 million to extend link to TCC is a retarded amount of money. I love light rail and streetcars. I want this to happen. But I’d really like some more information and thought about transitioning to lighter, cheaper road bed.
D DavidS February 13, 2008
If the (only) a couple million for a retrofit would include not just tracks, but cars, stops, etc, it might be worth it to shrink that big number on the TCC extension – particularly if it removed a transfer.
But then I’m also guessing that the TCC line included stops every few blocks rather than the more appropriate Centers based approach.
E Elliot February 13, 2008
Ok, so I’m kind of doing a devil’s advocate thing here, but DavidS got me thinking about a question I’d like to pose: What’s wrong with the #1 bus, and how would a streetcar running on essentially the same route be better?