Tacoma mulls new stop for streetcar

Tacoma, Wash.’s City Council is scheduled to be briefed Tuesday on a plan to add a streetcar stop to its Link service on Commerce Street between south 11th and 12th Streets. Link is operated by Sound Transit, which has been apprised of the plan.

According to a report issued by Tacoma City Manager Eric Anderson, the Public Works Department has worked on a design for the new station which would be smaller and less expensive than the other Link stops.

City engineer and assistant public works director Jim Parvey said engineers from the Public Works Department met with Sound Transit representatives lastspring to walk the affected rail line, take measurements, and see if Sound Transit was onboard with the idea. That meeting led his staff to begin drawing up plans for the station.

“It’s just a simple design at this point,” said Parvey earlier this year. “It does not show any architectural treatment.”

“If Tacoma decides to pursue the possibility of an additional stop, SoundTransit will work with the City and other affected parties to explore options and any construction and service implications,” said Sound Transit spokesman Andrew Schmid.