402 Tacoma Avenue S., Suite 200 TACOMA, WA 98402 PHONE (253) 627-4853 FAX (253) 627-2253
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012
Vol. CXXIII, No. 145
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Since 1890
WSDOT: I-5, SR 16 closures mean delays for Tacoma drivers
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City seeks WSDOT loans to complete Tacoma Rail projects Article and Photo By Todd Matthews, Editor Two loans from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) could help Tacoma Rail complete two infrastructure projects on the tide flats. The first agreement calls for a 10-year, interestfree loan from WSDOT in the amount of $354,542, according to documents prepared by City staff. The agreement also requires Tacoma Rail to contribute $88,633. The money would be used to remove the deteriorated asphalt grade crossings installed at East 11th Street near Milwaukee Way and replace them with new 115-pound rails and a concrete panel crossing system. When completed next June, the new infrastructure would better serve an area expected to see a spike in heavy truck traffic as the Port of Tacoma's new Washington United Terminals comes on line. The second agreement calls for a 10-year, interest-free loan from WSDOT in the amount of $363,938, according to documents prepared by City staff. The agreement also requires Tacoma Rail to contribute $90,985. The money would be used to remove 85-pound rails manufactured between 1906 and 1908 and replace them with new 115-pound rails in order to safely accommodate 286,000-pound rail cars and allow Tacoma Rail to better serve Port of Tacoma area freight rail customers. The project is expected to be completed next June. The Washington State Transportation Commission was briefed on the proposals in Febru-
Motorists traveling southbound Interstate 5 and eastbound State Route 16 in Tacoma can continue to expect overnight lane and ramp closures throughout the summer. These lane and ramp closures are necessary while contractor crews for the Washington State Department of Transportation continue work on the I-5 48th Street to M Street Bridge Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation and the SR 16 Eastbound Nalley Valley viaduct projects. The Tacoma traffic impacts for southbound I-5 and eastbound SR 16 will begin Fri., July 27 through Sun., Aug. 5. On Fri., July 27, crews will reduce southbound I-5 to one lane and reroute all traffic onto the 38th Street collector/distributor lane. Work hours are 10 p.m. Fri., July 27 to 10 a.m. Sat., July 28. This is an extended closure and motorists are asked to avoid using this section of I-5 during work hours to minimize expected backups and delays. On Sun., July 29, southbound I-5 will again be reduced to a single lane and diverted onto the 38th Street collector/distributor. The closures will begin at 9 p.m. Sun., July 29 and last until 5 a.m. Mon., July 30. On Mon., July 30, crews will close the southbound I-5 exit to 38th Street and the two adjacent southbound lanes, reducing southbound I-5 to only two lanes of traffic. At 11 p.m., crews will close all lanes of eastbound SR 16 at Union Avenue, as well as the Union Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR 16. All lanes and ramps on eastbound SR 16 will reopen by 4 a.m. on Tues., July 31 and ramp and lane closures on southbound I-5 will end by 5: 30 a.m.
On Tues., July 31 through Thurs., Aug. 2, southbound I-5 traffic will be reduced to a single lane and diverted onto the 38th Street collector/distributor lane, and all lanes of eastbound SR 16 at Union and the on-ramp from Union Avenue will close overnight. Work hours Tuesday through Thursday on both I-5 and SR 16 will begin at 9 p.m. and end at 5 a.m. the
If you were unable to attend one of the City of Tacoma's recent community budget input meetings, there are still opportunities available for you to participate in the 2013-2014 biennial budget process. The City invites residents to share their priorities for funding City services in the upcoming budget by completing the city services questionnaire online. The questionnaire will be available online until Aug. 31 at cityoftacoma. org and in paper form at Tacoma Public Libraries. The questionnaire is also available in Span-
ish and Vietnamese. Suggestions or ideas on how the City can increase efficiencies, generate new revenues or make effective service delivery changes may be submitted through the budget input box. All of the suggestions that fall within the scope of services the City provides will be reviewed and considered by staff for the 2013-2014 budget development process. The budget input box is available online until Nov. 30 at cityoftacoma. org. You can also complete the input form at one of the Tacoma Public Libraries.
Not too late for your 2 cents on city budget
ary. Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote on two resolutions authorizing the loans during its meeting on Tues., July 31 at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers on the first floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, located 747 Market Street. A draft version of the meeting materials is available online at cms.cityoftacoma.org/cityclerk/Files/CityCouncil/Pendings/2012/Pd20120731.pdf. Meetings are streamed live online at tvtacoma.com and broadcast live on TV Tacoma. following morning. Finally, on Sat., Aug. 4, all lanes of eastbound SR 16 at Union along with the Union Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR 16 will close from 12:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. Crews will return Saturday night at 10 p.m. to repeat this closure, reopening the ramp and all lanes by 9 a.m. on Sun., Aug. 5. Because crews won't be off the roadway until 9 a.m. Sunday, motorists are encouraged to avoid this section of SR 16 during work hours. Big backups and delays can be expected. More information is online at tacomatraffic.com.