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Council votes for one-way St. Helens Avenue

By John Larson

After considerable discussion during two meetings May 22, Tacoma City Council voted 6-3 to change St. Helens Avenue to a one-way, southbound street.

The change for the short street, which runs between South 9th and Market streets in front of city hall, is part of a local improvement district (LID) for the neighborhood.

The issue has been before the councilâ??s Economic Development Committee, which previously voted to recommend changing St. Helens from a two-way street to a one-way street. It has also been the subject of several public meetings. Craig Sivley, the cityâ??s assistant public works director, told the council during its noon study session that a majority of downtown merchants and property owners who are being assessed for the LID favor a design that allows for the maximum number of on-street parking spaces.

One option would have two lanes in opposite directions, with parallel parking. This would have eliminated 25 parking spaces.

The option the council approved will have one lane northbound, with angle parking on both sides.

The underground vaults and support walls in this section of downtown require relatively wide sidewalks, Sivley explained.

He noted a consultantâ??s report done years ago that advised two-way streets as a way to boost the retail sector downtown. â??Going to a one-way was not taken lightly,â?? he remarked.

Councilmember Rick Talbert, who chairs the Economic Development Committee, and Councilmember Tom Stenger, who is not on the committee, verbally sparred during the meeting. City staff was prepared to go out to bid this week, before the council had voted. Stenger inquired about this. Sivley replied that the project is two months behind schedule in going out to bid.

Stenger complained that the issue hasnâ??t gone to the Environment and Public Works Committee, which he is on.

Talbert said the full council is under no obligation to follow the recommendations. He said Stenger should take the recommendation for what it is, â??unless you want to scrap the committee system and start having six-hour study sessions.â??

Stenger noted the possibility of a streetcar system in the future, and said it might run up St. Helens because of its gentle slope. â??We are not looking at the whole picture,â?? he said â??We need to examine the bigger implications.â??

The council has received complaints from bicyclists upset that a bike lane is not in the plans. Councilmember Mike Lonergan suggested a path along the sidewalk on the south side of the street, perhaps with a line or physical barrier to separate bicyclists from pedestrians.

City Manager Eric Anderson expressed interest in the idea and said he would instruct staff to explore it.

Councilmember Jake Fey, who said he often rides a bike, said Broadway and Market Street are more suited for bicycle traffic.

Stenger, Mayor Bill Baarsma and Councilmember Julie Anderson cast the three dissenting votes. Baarsma said keeping two-way streets downtown is a higher priority than preserving 25 parking spaces. â??I think it is a bad trade,â?? he remarked.

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