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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013
Vol. CXXIV, No. 60
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Since 1890
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City of Tacoma releases draft report on south downtown development plan Posted online Tues., March 26 Image Courtesy City of Tacoma City of Tacoma officials announced Tuesday they have released the draft version of a report that aims to address future development of an area south of downtown Tacoma that covers approximately 600 acres and includes the University of Washington Tacoma (UW Tacoma) campus, Museum District, Foss Waterway, Brewery District, Hillside District, and Dome District. The draft version of the "South Downtown Subarea Plan and Environmental Impact Statement" has been released for a formal 30-day public comment period. The documents are available online at cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=15999. Comments will be accepted on the proposal until Fri., May 3. Comments on the proposal may be submitted to the project manager, Ian Munce in the Planning and Development Services Department, via e-mail at imunce@cityoftacoma.org, or mail at 747 Market St., Room 345, Tacoma, WA 98402. Planning and Development Services Department staff will conduct a public hearing on Thurs., April 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Carwein Auditorium on the UW Tacoma campus, located at 1900 Commerce St., to receive comments and give interested parties an opportunity to learn more. "As the second largest city in Puget Sound, Tacoma is the most important business center in the South Sound region, and the South Downtown Subarea Plan and Environmental Impact Statement will capitalize on Tacoma's potential and plan for its future growth," said Peter Huffman, who leads the City of Tacoma's Planning and Development Services Department.
City Council approves contract to keep Murray Morgan, Hylebos bridges operable
Article and File Photo By Todd Matthews, Editor Tacoma City Council approved a purchase resolution Tuesday that provides operation and maintenance services for two key bridges recently re-opened after years of closure: the Hylebos Bridge, which spans the Hylebos Waterway and was closed for more than a decade; and the Murray Morgan Bridge, which spans Thea Foss Waterway and was closed for more than five years. The resolution revises a contract awarded to Orion Marine Contractors, Inc. of Tacoma one year ago this month. The original agreement awarded a $546,000 contract to operate the Hylebos Bridge 24 hours per day, seven days a week for the first year, and on a reduced schedule for the next four years. "This [agreement] assumed the City would be successful in petitioning the Coast Guard for a reduced operation schedule," wrote interim Public Works Director Kurtis D. Kingsolver in a March 6 memo to Tacoma City Manager T. C. Broadnax. "Based on the number and timing of bridge openings for the first six months of operation, the Coast Guard did not approve a reduction in the operating schedule. Therefore, Orion's contract must be amended to reflect 24 hours a day, seven days a week operations for years two through five of the contract." The revised contract also pays to operate and maintain the newly renovated Murray Morgan Bridge.
Last June, representatives from the City of Tacoma and the Port of Tacoma gathered on the west side of the Blair Waterway for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official re-opening of the Hylebos Bridge.
"Since the Murray Morgan Bridge has a high clearance (approximately 60 feet at high tide), the bridge does not have to be opened as many times as the Hylebos Bridge (approximately 100 times per year versus approximately 350 times per month)," added Kingsolver. "Due to a low number of openings, the Murray Morgan Bridge is operated on an on-call basis with two hours advance notification required for bridge openings." The approved purchase resolution adds approximately $2.9 million to the original contract, bringing the total contract value to approximately $3.5 million. Both bridges were recently re-opened after long periods of closure. The Hylebos Bridge closed in 2001 when a failed drive shaft meant operators could no longer raise and lower the bridge. It was repaired and re-opened last May. The Murray Morgan Bridge was closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic in November 2007 after a Washington State Department of Transportation inspection deemed the bridge structurally deficient. On Feb. 1, the bridge was re-opened opened to vehicle and pedestrian traffic after a major rehabilition project. A ceremony was held on Feb. 15 to celebrate the bridge's re-opening.