December 2025
A Message from the Director
As 2025 comes to a close, I am incredibly proud to share the achievements of Tacoma Public Works this year. Our teams across Transportation, Engineering, Street Operations, and Facilities Management have delivered projects and services that make our city safer, more accessible, and more resilient for all residents.
From pavement preservation and traffic safety improvements to the creation of protected bike lanes, greenways, and upgraded facilities, this year has been full of meaningful progress. We responded to thousands of service requests, completed major infrastructure projects totaling tens of millions of dollars, advanced our clean fleet and sustainability goals, and made critical safety and accessibility improvements throughout the city.
Notably, two of our community-focused projects—South 12th Street Preservation and Safety Improvements and the South Park Avenue Greenway—received funding from the Transportation Improvement Board, demonstrating the value of our persistent planning and commitment to safer, more connected streets.
As I prepare to retire at the end of 2025, I want to thank our dedicated staff, our partners, and the community for your trust and collaboration. It has been an honor to serve alongside such talented teams. I leave knowing that Public Works will continue to deliver safe, sustainable, and innovative solutions that enhance life in our city for years to come.
- Jeffrey A. Jenkins
Director, Public Works Department
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As 2025 ends, Tacoma Public Works (PW) is proud to share a year of progress, service, and impact across the city. From improving streets and trails to enhancing mobility, safety, and community spaces, our teams have delivered tangible results for community members and businesses alike.
 J Street Bike Boulevard Project
Responded to 10,544 Service Connect requests (77% of all PW requests) and closed 10,181.
Road Use Compliance team supported 107 right-of-way reclamations and conducted 9,151 encampment visits.
Expanded the Residential Disability Program and welcomed four new downtown parking tenants, generating $168K annually.
Adopted updates to the Transportation & Mobility Plan, including curbside management, public realm, and multimodal level of service.
Completed 3 Road Safety Audits; Traffic Signal and Streetlight Shop upgraded 57 intersections, replaced 17 signal heads, and converted all failing beacons to Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs).
Secured $3.54M in grant funding and helped 401 residents access new e-bikes.
 Prairie Line Trail Phase II Project
Completed or nearly completed 17 major projects totaling $78M, including: Prairie Line Trail Phase II ($11.8M), East 64th Street Phase II ($9.1M), Water Ditch Trail Phase 3A (also known as Water Flume Line Trail) ($8M), J Street Bike Boulevard ($5.9M), and Tacoma Spur Northbound/Southbound ramps ($5.4M).
Advanced design for multi-year projects: Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge Replacement ($300M), Schuster Parkway ($115M), and Sound Transit South Tacoma Access (South 56th Street Bike Path | South 58th Street | South 60th Street | South Adams Street Shared Use | South Pine Street) ($42M).
This year, we focused on operational improvements that enhance efficiency, transparency, and service delivery:
- Upgraded asset management software to support better fiscal oversight
- Expanded GIS capabilities within the City’s ESRI platform
- Updated engineering drafting standards for consistency and clarity
- Standardized right-of-way and construction plan templates
- Integrated a new grant module into the City’s enterprise system for improved tracking and reporting
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Grounds: Planted 77 trees and 4,800 annuals, removed 10,664 lbs. of vegetation and 61,420 lbs. of debris, cleaned up 13 business districts, and removed 12,265 graffiti tags.
Sign Shop: Repaired 681 signs, replaced 1,602, installed 1,476, and completed special projects including Fire Communications Center/Emergency Operations Center restriping, Daffodil Parade stencils, McKinley crosswalk, I-705 striping, and South 21st Street and Pacific Avenue striping.
Street Section: Completed 72 blocks of residential overlays, 219 blocks of surface treatments, 244 blocks of crack repair, and 2.83 lane miles of arterial pavement repairs. Reconstructed 2,163 linear feet of sidewalks, built 98 ADA-compliant curb ramps, graded 631 alleys, chip-sealed 8.9 miles of Browns Point Boulevard, and produced 9,500 tons of asphalt.
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 Tacoma Municipal Building Rehabilitation
Fleet Services: Placed about 100 new vehicles into service and have 80 more on order or being outfitted. Advanced the City’s clean fleet transition with hybrid police units, electric vehicle/hybrid vehicles, and renewable diesel (R99) for Environmental Services and Public Works. Surplused about 100 vehicles and equipment pieces to maintain an efficient, right-sized fleet.
Facilities Maintenance: Completed the Fire Station #13 apparatus bay floor and apron replacement. Replaced HVAC systems at five facilities, including the Traffic Signal and Streetlight Shop. Resealed and restriped the Fleet/Police campus parking lot. Completed women’s locker room upgrades at Street Operations.
Real Property Services: Acquired land for the future Fire Station #7. Acquired approximately 580 acres for Green River Watershed conservation. Finalized the sale of Tacoma Water property to the Tacoma Sportsman Club, marking the largest Conservation Futures acquisition awarded. Transferred Lot D to the LeMay Museum to support development of its new Robotics Center.
Capital Projects: Launched Phase 1 of the historic Tacoma Municipal Building exterior rehabilitation. Completed the Fleet/Police Warehouse HVAC upgrade and secured grant funding for the Tacoma Police Department Headquarters HVAC replacement. Delivered eight roofing projects, including the Public Works Asphalt Plant. Started design work for the new Fire Station #7.
Public Works continues to deliver essential improvements across our neighborhoods, from upgraded streets and sidewalks to infrastructure that keeps Tacoma moving.
Track your tax dollars at work: 🔗 tacomastreetsinitiative.org
Visit our City projects page: 🔗 City Projects | City of Tacoma
TIB Awards Funding for Tacoma Safety Projects
Two Public Works projects have received Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) funding to improve safety and mobility in our neighborhoods.
Project Website
Funding: $3,721,000 | Location: South Grant Street to South Cedar Street
This project addresses both pavement and safety needs along a high-risk corridor. Planned improvements include:
- Milling and overlay to extend the street’s life by 15–20 years
- Upgraded traffic signals with Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) and larger, more visible signal heads
- Buffered, protected bike lanes
- Safer pedestrian crossings with three Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) systems
- Lane reconfiguration to reduce crash risk
These upgrades will improve safety, accessibility, and mobility for all users.
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 Project Website
Funding: $478,745 | Location: South 86th Street to South 76th Street
This project enhances the greenway and school route in the Fern Hill neighborhood. Planned improvements include:
- Four new speed humps and a traffic circle to calm traffic
- A diverter at South 78th Street to reduce cut-through traffic
- Raised crosswalks and curb bulbs at Fern Hill Elementary
- 160 feet of new sidewalk to fill in missing sections
Together, these improvements will calm traffic, enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and create a continuous, low-stress route for the community.
Transportation Impact Fees Coming in 2026
The Tacoma City Council has approved Ordinance 29082, authorizing Transportation Impact Fees starting June 1, 2026. These one-time fees on new residential, commercial, and industrial developments will help fund the added transportation capacity needed as the region grows—supporting sidewalks, bike lanes, intersection upgrades, and other critical infrastructure.
The program is expected to generate about $16 million per year, creating a dedicated funding source that reduces reliance on the General Fund. Projects funded through these fees will align with the City’s Transportation and Mobility Plan, Equity Index, and Capital Facilities Program.
To ensure the program supports community needs, the ordinance includes key reductions and exemptions for affordable housing, childcare facilities, transit-oriented development, and existing homeowners not adding new units.
Public Works will report annually on revenue collected and projects funded. More information is available on the City’s website.
City Advances Vision Zero with Updated Traffic Safety Camera Program
The Tacoma City Council has approved updates to the Automated Traffic Safety Camera Program, furthering the City’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2035.
Beginning January 1, 2026, the maximum penalty for camera-issued infractions will increase from $124 to $145, aligning Tacoma’s code with updated state law. First-time violators receiving public assistance may qualify for a 50% penalty reduction, and payment plans will remain available.
Key updates include:
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Data-Driven Camera Placement: A new Automated Enforcement Task Force has created a framework to evaluate future camera locations based on safety, livability, accessibility, and equity.
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Expanded Eligibility Areas: Cameras may now be installed in additional high-risk zones such as public parks, hospital areas, and other locations identified through crash and speed data.
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Reinvestment in Safety: Revenue generated from new cameras must be spent on traffic safety improvements, including road maintenance, pedestrian and bicycle safety projects, and “complete streets” designs.
Council Members Kristina Walker, Sarah Rumbaugh, and Sandesh Sadalge expressed strong support for the changes, highlighting the role of automated cameras in reducing dangerous speeding, improving neighborhood safety, and advancing the community’s long-standing requests for action.
More information and FAQs about the program are available on the City’s website.
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