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MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
Vol. CXXIV, No. 7
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Published Since Since 1890 1890
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Pierce County Ferry system study under way
Photos Courtesy Pierce County A study of the Pierce County Ferry System is currently under way to evaluate potential alternatives for the system, such as changes to the schedule and improvements to existing facilities, Pierce County officials announced Friday. During the Waterborne Transportation Study, Pierce County will analyze population and demographic changes projected through 2034, identify changes to ferry service that would enhance the economic vitality and livability of Anderson and Ketron islands, evaluate the financial sustainability of the system, and evaluate the 14-year capital needs of the system. The study and resulting plan are expected to be complete in late spring 2015. "This process is an opportunity to review the current status of the ferry system and develop new ideas to benefit the system and our ferry riders," said Deb Wallace, Public Works and Utilities airport and ferry administrator. "Proposed alternatives will be evaluated from a ferry system and community standpoint." A study advisory group will provide input on the needs of the ferry system and the implications of any alternatives to ferry staff. BERK Consulting, a Seattle firm, has been hired to lead the study on the county's behalf. The next meeting of the advisory group will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Weds., Jan. 14, at the Steilacoom Community Center, located at 2301 Worthington St. in
Steilacoom. The 10-member group is made up of stakeholders including ferry riders, residents from both islands, and representatives from the Town of Steilacoom, Anderson Island Fire and Rescue, and Steilacoom Historical School District No. 1. The group is expected to meet at 1:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Steilacoom Community Center through May. There will be an opportunity for public comment during the meetings. The study will be completed in three phases. In Phase 1, which started in November and will last through January, the current status of the ferry system will be assessed to understand the system's history and outlook, and identify key challenges and opportunities for the future. The county will analyze population and ridership, fare structure and ticketing system technology, the system's finances, and service including vessels, terminals and operations. Riders will also be asked to take an origin and destination survey. The county will develop alternatives for the ferry schedule, fare structure, ticketing technology, and cost and revenue strategies during Phase 2 in February. In Phase 3, which runs March to May, the potential
impacts of the alternatives to ridership, finances, customers, and communities will be examined before the plan is developed. During this phase, Pierce County will host two public meetings to share the proposed alternatives and gather feedback. The draft and final plans are expected to be complete in late spring 2015. The system was last analyzed by the 2003 Waterborne Transportation Study. The Pierce County Ferry System provides service between the town of Steilacoom and Anderson and Ketron islands. More information is available online at piercecountywa.org/ferry.
Tacoma poised to accept $13M in grants for public works projects Posted online Fri., Jan. 9 By Todd Matthews, Editor The City of Tacoma is poised to accept seven grants totaling approximately $13 million to help pay for a range of public works projects throughout the city. In October, the Puget Sound Regional Council announced it would direct approximately $5 million in grant funds to help the City pay for five key projects: approximately $1.8 million for the Historic Water Ditch Trail; approximately $1.1 million for the Schuster Parkway Promenade; $850,000 for pedestrian street improvements in the Hilltop and South Downtown neighborhoods; $750,000 for a project at South 48th Street and Tacoma Mall Boulevard; and $420,000 for the second phase of a project in-
volving traffic model updates, mode choices, and pavement management integration (see "Key Tacoma, Pierce County transportation projects awarded regional grants," Tacoma Daily Index, Oct. 30, 2014). Also in October, the Puget Sound Regional Council announced it would direct approximately $2 million to the City as part of a nearly $4 million overall project between the City of Tacoma and the City of University Place to help pay for the first phase of road improvements near 56th Street and Cirque Drive (see "Key Tacoma, Pierce County transportation projects awarded regional grants," Tacoma Daily Index, Oct. 30, 2014). Additionally, City of Tacoma officials announced last month the Transportation Improve-
ment Board awarded a grant totaling nearly $6 million to the City to help pay for improvements to a stretch of Port of Tacoma Road between East 11th Street and Marshall Avenue. The City will need to provide approximately $2 million in matching funds in order to accept these grants. Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to accept the grant funding and provide the matching funds during a public meeting at 5 p.m. on Tues., Jan. 13, at Tacoma City Hall, located at 747 Market St., in downtown Tacoma. Copies of the resolution and staff memo are available online at cityoftacoma.org. A breakdown of each project, grant, and matching fund requirements is available online at tacomadailyindex.com.