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Wed. August 23, 2006, 08:00am PDT
Streetcar meeting recap
Steve and I attended last Thursday's Tacoma Streetcar meeting where we had some good discussion and ideas. Although the group isn't yet an official non-profit, this meeting should help get that ball rolling. The group of about 10 heard from Morgan and a local urban studies student Chris about the progress of streetcar feasibility studies. The city is just now allocating staff for the task but the county and Pierce (not Sound) Transit is also conducting a study of their own. None of these studies will result directly in a streetcar system but will tell those making decisions and the citizens how much it will cost to do where.
Since the group doesn't have non-profit status, we discussed getting a volunteer board together. You can sign up for the group's newsletter and contact them about volunteering here. The group will be working on their own messaging and plans then get the word out at local events and to business owners.
The major benefits of a streetcar system could be a lower cost compared to something like the Link due to the shallow depth of digging to lay down streetcar track. No utilities would need to be moved. The other benefit is solid infrastructure. As someone at the meeting said, development doesn't follow a bus line. Ideas swirling around point to a pilot streetcar project heading up to the Stadium District. This would provide a useful proof of concept and an ability to head down the parking choked Sixth Ave which could also then serve other busy nearby business districts.
Things are just getting started so voice your ideas, opinions, and concerns now. Would you like to see a streetcar system running throughout the city? Where should it go/not go? If you needed to get around town, how close would a streetcar stop need to be for you to take it from home? Have you experience any other streetcar systems? What'd you think? Any discussion that happens here I'll pass along to the streetcar group.
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