Council Member Kristina Walker -- Transportation Updates

Hello Tacoma! 

As many of you know, transportation safety is very important to me, and I hear from you daily that it’s important to you too. Since I started serving on our City Council in 2020 and passed our first Vision Zero resolution, I've been leading efforts in the city to make sure we have safe and multimodal transportation options for everyone. This month, I’m featuring transit in my newsletter, as we have so many exciting improvements coming at the local and regional level. That's me in the photo with Nathan Groh, Pierce Transit Zero Emissions Fleet Coordinator, and Pierce Transit Operator Luther Green. 

As the Pierce Transit Board Chair, I’m excited to share that, starting in April, there are a lot of improvements coming to how we get around our city. Pierce Transit has adjusted bus routes and how customers ride them based on robust community input, including requests for more frequent bus service through Stream and new, efficient options like the Runner.

I am also continuing to work hard to ensure that local transportation options connect regionally. As a member of the Sound Transit Board of Directors, I’ve had the opportunity to celebrate the grand opening of the Hilltop Tacoma Link in September 2023, as well as to dig in on long-range planning for the Tacoma Dome Link Extension and Sounder South. You can see me and fellow Sound Transit Board Member/Fife Mayor Kim Roscoe and Sound Transit's interim CEO Goran Sparrman enjoying the Tacoma Link in the photo.

This year, Tacoma is updating our Comprehensive Plan, including the Transportation Master Plan. This is our opportunity to make sure we plan for transit and a safe transportation system. Stay tuned for opportunities to make your voice heard in these plans during the next several months.

Planning for the future of transit is vital to the success of our city. I hope you won't hesitate to reach out to me to share your perspective on transit. I want to make sure you have everything you need to get out and enjoy living, working, and playing in Tacoma!

Service Changes Mean More Options for Riders

On March 31, 2024, Pierce Transit will retire three low-performing bus routes in those areas: Routes 13 (North End Tacoma), 63 (Northeast Tacoma Express), and 425 (Puyallup Connector). While it’s always tough to retire routes, we know low ridership was making the buses incredibly expensive to operate. Instead, riders have the option to use Runner service in these areas. The expanded Runner zones in these areas will completely cover the areas previously served by these routes and offer on-demand, curb-to-curb, accessible rides with longer hours of service.

Earlier this month I had a chance to check out Pierce Transit’s on-demand Runner service (pictured). The Runner service will pick you up and drop you off in areas where a bus may not be available. The Runner service costs the same as a bus trip. Pierce Transit expanded Runner service in Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma’s North End, and Puyallup starting on March 3.

You can access Runner service using the PT Runner App or within Transit, Pierce Transit’s all-in-one app to plan, track, and pay for rides. The Transit app provides the information you need to plan and pay for trips, making it easier to access your destination. If you don’t have a smart phone, you can book a ride by calling 253.581.8000, option 4. Wheelchair-accessible Runner vehicles are also available. Transit is available at www.transitapp.com.

Sound Transit South Tacoma Sounder Stations

Sound Transit and the City of Tacoma are partnering to build a better-connected network so more people can walk, roll, bike, and take transit to the South Tacoma Station and connect to neighborhood destinations. On March 24, the Sound Transit Board voted on the list of projects that will make it easier to get to the South Tacoma Sounder Train without a car.

The City of Tacoma will complete these projects, funded through ST 2, and it is anticipated that improvements will be complete by 2030.

Future Projects

I am so excited to share that the City of Tacoma will receive $1.3 million in new federal funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot and Neighborhood Access and Equity discretionary grant programs. This funding will be used for increased safety and mobility options across Interstate 5 (I-5) in Tacoma.

I was pleased to meet with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg while at the National League of Cities 2024 Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C. Receiving this funding for our I-5 crossing study is going to make a huge difference in Tacoma. For too long communities have been physically divided and it has been unsafe to bike or walk between them. We are thrilled that leaders in Washington D.C. are investing in change and grateful to Representative Derek Kilmer for always fighting for Tacoma!