For more than an hour on Oct. 6, Tacoma City Council heard testimony on Sound Transit’s design for commuter rail through Dome District. The vast majority of the approximately 25 people who spoke during a public hearing blasted the design, which will use primarily a berm to elevate the tracks from Freighthouse Square to Pacific Avenue, which it will cross on an elevated structure.
For months critics of the design have lobbied for a post and beam design. The already approved agreement called for the berm as the main structure, with post and beam to be considered where appropriate.
“A berm is going to be an aesthetic nightmare,” Michael Buchanan declared.
Dan Fear criticized the council for not acting to force Sound Transit to abandon the berm. “I feel you are not listening to citizens.”
The council is scheduled to vote on Oct. 20 on authorizing Sound Transit to use city rights-of-way. Marty Campbell is president of Cross District Association, the umbrella organization for the business districts around town. The association has officially endorsed a post and beam design and he requested the city table voting on the ordinance.
Stan Smith of North End Neighborhood Council said his group has also endorsed post and beam. “Sound Transit and you have failed to listen,” Smith declared.
Andrew Austen of Transportation Choices Coalition mentioned his organization’s support of the current design. The commuter rail line will provide residents with a new option for public transportation. “Long term, this is going to benefit economic development,” he added.
Ron Klein, communications director for Sound Transit, read a letter from Joni Earl, the agency’s executive director. It stated the numerous changes Sound Transit has made to the design over the years to accommodate the wishes of citizens and city officials, such as changing the original at-grade crossing at Pacific Avenue.
Councilmember Mike Lonergan noted time and money is of the essence. Sound Transit stands to lose out on some federal grants if it does not proceed with construction soon. This line has stations already built in South Tacoma and Lakewood. Residents in those areas want the train that they paid for, he pointed out.
At Lonergan’s request, the project’s chief engineer addressed the council. Jim Edwards, Sound Transit’s capital projects director, noted that the design is complete. Revising it now could delay the project for six to nine months and cost up to $28 million in federal funding. “Losing those grants would set us way back,” Edwards said.
Berms and post and beam would both elevate the top of the train to nine feet off the ground, according to Edwards. The latter would serve as a rain deck that would attract transients, he remarked.
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