Tacoma City Council Approves Interlocal Agreement With Port of Tacoma

This week the Tacoma City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City of Tacoma to execute an interlocal agreement with the Port of Tacoma for a Puget Sound Energy liquefied natural gas facility on Port property located at East 11th Street and Taylor Way. 

An environmental impact statement prepared by the City for this project concluded that the facility could advance the policy priorities of fostering a vibrant and diverse economy with good jobs for all Tacoma residents, while assuring outstanding stewardship of the natural and built environment.

"This clean energy facility will help reduce global emissions and create family-wage jobs. Our partnership with the Port will allow us to address infrastructure and public safety needs,” said Mayor Marilyn Strickland. “I am pleased that the City will be working with the Port of Tacoma on this important project to ensure that the facility is built to meet the safety needs of the Port and surrounding communities.”

It is anticipated that these conditions will be included in the multiple permits necessary for the project, with the environmental impact statement identifying three actions that are considered to be of paramount importance in all upcoming public safety reviews: 
 

• The reopening of former Fire Station 15 at East 11th Street and Taylor Way
• The complete reconstruction of Taylor Way from State Route 509 to East 11th Street to current "heavy haul" standards
• The installation of an intelligent transportation system that can inform public safety agencies about vehicle and train status in real time

Agreements have been made to reopen former Fire Station 15, while accepting Puget Sound Energy’s proposal to pay for the station’s refurbishment and approximately half the cost of reconstructing Taylor Way. 

These agreements also outline the path for the City and the Port to work together over the next four years to secure funding for the balance of the Taylor Way reconstruction and the installation of a basic intelligent transportation system.  They also pave the way for the formation of a local improvement district to fund any portion of the balance that is not funded through grants for the reconstruction of Taylor Way. 

“The reopening of former Fire Station 15 is an important commitment to ensuring the safety of the Port and surrounding communities,” said Northeast Tacoma Neighborhood Council Co-Chair John Thurlow.  “I am happy that the City will be working with the Port of Tacoma to meet all the needs of our workforce and neighborhoods.”