 August 2025
A Message from the Director
Dear Tacoma Community,
I’m pleased to welcome you to the first issue of The Work Zone, our new monthly newsletter from the City of Tacoma's Public Works Department. This newsletter is part of our effort to strengthen communication, share meaningful updates, and stay better connected with you, the residents and stakeholders we serve.
Public Works plays a central role in the day-to-day life of our city. Whether we are repairing streets, improving pedestrian access, installing traffic signals, or supporting City vehicles, our work helps keep Tacoma running safely and efficiently.
Over the past year, we have heard clearly that trust in government is something we must continually earn. That trust comes from being transparent, responsive, and engaged. This newsletter is one way we are working to rebuild that trust by offering more consistent and accessible information about our work.
We’ve also launched a new Streets Initiative I Milestones webpage where you can explore detailed progress on completed projects funded by the initiative. It’s another step toward showing how your tax dollars are at work and demonstrating our commitment to accountability.
In each issue, we will provide project and program updates, important road closure notices, hiring opportunities, and ways you can participate in public meetings or give feedback. We will also spotlight some of the people doing this work every day so you can see the dedication and pride behind the projects.
We know there is more work to do to close the gap between the services we provide and the understanding of how and why we do them. The Work Zone is one of the tools we will use to keep that dialogue going.
Thank you for reading and thank you for continuing to support the work we do for Tacoma.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Jenkins
Public Works Director
City of Tacoma
Project Updates
Recently Completed
 East 64th Street Phase 2 | Project Overview
Phase 1 of this multi-phase project — from McKinley Avenue to Pacific Avenue — is now complete. Construction for Phase 2, stretching from McKinley to Portland Avenue, is nearly finished and on track to wrap up by August 2025.
Highlights include:
- New road surfaces and bike lanes
- Replaced sidewalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps
- Upgraded lighting and stormwater systems
- Art and landscaping elements
Right-of-way acquisition and power pole relocation are both complete. We’ll keep you posted as Phase 3 begins planning.
J Street Improvements | Project Overview
We’ve completed a two-mile bicycle boulevard along J Street from North 3rd to South 27th Street — plus five key east-west connectors that improve access to Link Light Rail stops and neighborhood hubs.
New features include:
- Traffic diverters to reduce vehicle through-traffic and speeding
- Safer pedestrian crossings
- ADA-accessible curb ramps and signals
- Separated and shared bike lane improvements
This is a major step toward a safer, more accessible Hilltop.
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You’re Invited: J Street Ribbon Cutting Celebration & Family Bike Ride – Thursday, September 4, 2025
You’re invited to celebrate the official opening of the new J Street Neighborhood Greenway in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood! J Street is designed to reduce speeding and improve safety and accessibility, making it easier to walk, bike, and roll to local businesses, schools, transit, parks, and daily destinations. The two-mile J Street project extends from North 3rd Street to South 27th Street, with east-west connections on South 11th Street, Earnest S Brazil, South 17th Street and South 18th Street.
Join local elected officials, project team members, and community partners for this special event highlighting a major step forward in creating safer, more accessible streets for everyone. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025
Location: Edna Travis Park – 2301 South J Street, Tacoma, WA 98405
Time: Join us for the ride, the ribbon cutting celebration, or both:
- 5:30 p.m. – Kidical Mass Family Bike Ride led by 2nd Cycle
- 6 p.m. – Ribbon Cutting Celebration
Event Highlights:
- A slow-paced, family-friendly bike ride along J Street, led by 2nd Cycle Tacoma, will depart from Edna Travis Park at 5:30 p.m. Please bring a helmet if you’re joining the ride.
- At 6 p.m., gather at Edna Travis Park for a festive ride-through streamer ceremony in place of a traditional ribbon cutting. There will be opportunities to learn more about the project, activities for children at the playground, and brief remarks celebrating the project.
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Prairie Line Trail Phase II | Project Overview
Construction is underway in the Brewery District, connecting South 21st to 25th along the former BNSF rail line. Once complete, this trail will offer a low-grade path for walking and biking between the UW Tacoma campus and the Water Ditch Trail.
Improvements include:
- A 14-ft-wide multi-use path
- Lighting, public art, landscaping, and signage
Puyallup Avenue Corridor Improvements | Project Overview
This corridor is getting major upgrades, including sidewalks, curb ramps, lighting, landscaping, and a transit-only lane. It will also include a portion of the regional spuyaləpabš trail connecting Tacoma to Fife and Puyallup.
Upcoming Work
More street improvements are planned this summer and fall — including pothole repair, resurfacing, and targeted curb ramp installations.
Track your tax dollars at work: 🔗 tacomastreetsinitiative.org
Visit our City projects page: 🔗 City Projects | City of Tacoma
 
🔎 Program in Focus: Restoring Neighborhood Streets
Tacoma’s Residential Restoration Program is improving the local roads that matter most — the ones right outside your front door.
Led by our Street Operations team and funded by the Streets Initiative (approved by voters in 2015), this program focuses on:
- Pavement restoration and overlays
- Permanent pothole repair
- ADA-compliant curb ramp installations
- Sidewalk repairs and infill
- Alley maintenance
What’s Been Done:
- Over 5,600 street blocks repaired or resurfaced
- 4,000+ ADA curb ramps installed
- 2,000+ potholes permanently filled each year
- Sidewalk improvements and alley grading in key neighborhoods
Why It Matters:
- Safer travel for everyone
- More equitable infrastructure
- Greater visibility and trust in how funds are spent
📣 Report Street issues via Tacoma FIRST 311 or learn more at tacomastreetsinitiative.org
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