Water Ditch Trail Plans Moving Forward
Plans for the Water Ditch Trail are moving forward.
Last we heard there was some negative public comment voicing concern over safety around the trail. Those concerns and others are being addressed as the delayed project moves forward.
The 6.5 mile trail will connect South Tacoma with downtown for bicyclists and pedestrians, joining up with the Prairie Line Trail.
Phase I was completed in 2009. Looking forward to Phase II, the City has been awarded two grants: $1.495 million for trail design and construction and $835,000 for traffic and pedestrian signals. These grants will cover about two more miles of trail, user amenities, and traffic signals.
Trail Designs for Phase II are at about 95% complete, and being reviewed by The City and other stakeholders. Original construction planned to start this summer has been delayed to address a short list of concerns.
- Public Safety – A CPTED review of public safety concerns led to enhancements of planned lighting for the trail, including the use of second generation LED lights expected to be available early next year.
- Right of Way and Boundary Line Adjustments – A right-of-way swap at the site of the old Gray Middle School and a boundary line adjustment at Arlington Elementary School are currently being processed for City Council consideration.
- Environmental Mitigation of Oregon White Oak Trees – The original plan would have required the removal of several mature Oregon White Oak trees. A proposed realignment would avoid the need to remove any mature Oregon Oak trees, but would remove and transplant several saplings. That plan is being reviewed.
The following dates reflect the revised plan. The signal safety element of the project will start 30 days prior to trail construction.
Bid Advertisement Dec 4, 2012
Opening Bids – January 8, 2013
City Council – February 12, 2013
Award Project February 26, 2013
Pre-Construction – March 11, 2013
Construction Start – April 1, 2013
So, sometime next year…
Filed under: Transportation, Biking, City Projects
2 comments
D Douglas Tooley September 19, 2012
Most Pierce County Bike trails will end up coming together in the Dome District – the Foothills trail down the Puyallup, the Scott Pierson trail to Gig Harbor, the proposed and studied Eatonville rail trail as well as the Downtown Connector to Ruston Way/Point.
Along the way, let’s hope there are also good connections between the Tacoma Dome/LeMay Museum and Downtown.
CPTED in this area is crucial to the success of these efforts, and I look forward to seeing the result.
I was under the impression that the Prairie Line would connect to the UW, and, perhaps, the Waterfront. Any idea what the status is on that? Is the UW taking lead for the campus section?
One thing that is not clear on the planning documents is the relationship between the Prairie Line and the new Sounder alignment.
FWIW, this is a project that will bring me back to Tacoma.
T Tim Smith September 19, 2012
The Water Flume (Ditch) Trail cuts right near my house and I walk the exisitng segments daily. This is a pleasant ride/commute with nice cross connections to both the STAR Center and Sounder /SERA area. Sadly, the PHASE II trail would have come right past the courtyard of the Gray Middle School Barlow Annex (if it had been repurposed). What a great destination place for the downtowners to escape to the wide skies of South Tacoma. We have the amazing Asian Pacific Cultural Center in the historic South Park USO and wanderings among the historic mausoleums and cemeteries. Yes it will be very nice when this is complete.