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July 2026
From the Assistant Director:
Summer is a busy season for Public Works, with projects underway across Tacoma to improve our streets, sidewalks, and transportation network. This month, we’re excited to share several updates that reflect the continued investment in Tacoma’s infrastructure.
The City Council recently received the Tacoma Streets Initiative Community Impact Report, highlighting the improvements made possible over the last 10 years through dedicated transportation funding, including street reconstruction, sidewalk and ADA improvements, traffic safety projects, and arterial paving. As that initiative reached the end of its 10-year term, voters will consider Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks (Proposition 1) on August 4. We’ll continue sharing information about the proposed 10-year transportation funding plan and how it could support future investments across Tacoma.
We’re also highlighting several projects currently underway, including roadway striping, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and new railroad crossing signals. And with the recent $7.6 million federal BUILD grant for the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge replacement, Tacoma has another important opportunity to advance a critical regional connection.
There is a lot happening across our city, and we’re proud to keep you informed about the work underway. Thank you for staying connected with Tacoma Public Works, and for your continued interest in building a safer, more connected Tacoma.
Corey Newton, P.E.
Assistant Director / City Engineer
City of Tacoma Public Works
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Tacoma voters will consider the Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy (Proposition 1) on the August 4, 2026, Primary Election ballot. The proposed 10-year levy would provide funding to maintain Tacoma’s streets, improve transportation safety, and expand sidewalks and multimodal connections throughout the city.
If approved, Connect Tacoma would support an estimated $320 million in transportation investments over 10 years, including $200 million in voter-approved funding, $90 million in grants, and $30 million in partnership contributions. The funding would be organized around three investment areas:
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Better Neighborhood Streets: $85 million for residential street paving and repairs, pothole repairs, sidewalk improvements, and traffic calming.
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Safer Streets for Everyone: $159 million for major roads and arterials, including street surface improvements, safety enhancements, freight and economic connections, and expanded transportation connections.
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Improved Connections: $76 million for Safe Routes to School, sidewalk repairs and new links, ADA accessibility improvements, trails, and multimodal connections.
If approved, the levy would begin in 2027 and replace the previous 10-year voter-approved Streets Initiative, which has expired. Funding would come from a proposed $0.20 per $1,000 of assessed property value increase and a 1.5% utility earnings tax on natural gas, electric, and telephone utilities.
Connect Tacoma is designed as a 10-year investment framework rather than a fixed list of projects. This allows the City to respond to changing pavement conditions, safety needs, utility coordination, grant opportunities, and community priorities while continuing to plan and prioritize investments across Tacoma.
The Tacoma City Council received an update July 21 on the accomplishments and outcomes of the Tacoma Streets Initiative, highlighting a decade of investment in Tacoma’s transportation infrastructure.
Approved by voters in 2015, the Tacoma Streets Initiative provided dedicated funding to address long-standing street maintenance and repair needs across the city. Over the past 10 years, the program has supported residential and arterial street reconstruction, sidewalk and curb improvements, ADA accessibility upgrades, traffic safety projects, and traffic signal improvements.
Some of the projects made possible through the Tacoma Streets Initiative funding include:
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Larchmont Neighborhood: 18 blocks of permeable pavement, new bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and intersection safety improvements.
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Fawcett Avenue: More than 20 blocks of new pavement in the historic Brewery District, along with wider sidewalks that transformed the corridor into a more multimodal route.
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South 56th Street: Nearly four arterial lane miles of paving, safety improvements at four major intersections, and improved access to the Water Ditch Trail.
The initiative also helped Tacoma leverage additional state and federal funding. By providing reliable local matching funds, the City was able to secure approximately $3 in outside funding for every $1 invested by Tacoma taxpayers.
As the Tacoma Streets Initiative reaches the end of its 10-year term, the City has developed the Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy (Proposition 1), a proposed 10-year transportation funding plan that will be considered by Tacoma voters in the August 4, 2026, Primary Election. Connect Tacoma would focus on improving arterials, neighborhood streets, sidewalks, safety, and connections for people walking, biking, driving, and taking transit.
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Streets Initiative Package #30
 A substantial amount of work has been completed on Package #30 over the past couple of months. Several roads are finished with paving and ADA-compliant curb ramps at associated intersections. Here are some before-and-after photos of completed work!
  Intersection of South 52nd and South Steele streets.
  South 50th Street looking westward down the hill.
Construction will continue with utility upgrades on Railroad Street, followed by final roadway paving.
2026 Roadway Striping
Many roads around Tacoma will be receiving new paint or roadway markings as part of our 2026 striping contract. Below is an example of some of the wear that roadways commonly experience where markings become increasingly more difficult to see while driving, even during the day.
Links to Opportunity Streetscape Package 4 | Project Website
The Links to Opportunity Streetscape Project (LTO) provides upgrades and enhances the appearance of the street and sidewalks along the T-Line Light Rail train route on Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Improvements include ADA-compliant sidewalks, concrete sidewalk colors and paver designs, inscriptions in granite panels, bronze historic plaques, upgraded pedestrian lighting, street furniture, bicycle racks, bicycle corrals, and repair station, street trees, and landscaping.
LTO Package 4 will cover from Earnest S Brazill Street to South 15th Street. Below are examples of improvements already made during other packages, including lean rails, benches, lighted seat blocks, and brick paving.
 Preparations and demolition of asphalt and concrete sidewalks began this month.
South Cedar Street Active Transportation Improvements | Project Website
This project spans from South 15th Street to Center Street. The list of improvements includes:
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ADA-compliant curb ramps and sidewalk upgrades
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Pedestrian crosswalk markings and signaling
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Protected bike lane with markings and signal detection
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Road reconfiguration for safety and traffic
Minor construction has already begun with utility work.
Lincoln Avenue and Port of Tacoma Road Railroad Crossings Signal Installation | Project Website
This project will install new crossing signals to the existing traffic lights at the intersection of Port of Tacoma Road and Lincoln Avenue, and near the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Thorne Road. Flashing LED lights, crossing gates, and any necessary ADA-compliant sidewalks will be added, with construction scheduled to start this summer.
 Tacoma's Downtown Parking System is Modernizing
New technology, expanded payment options, and other customer-focused improvements are rolling out across Tacoma’s downtown parking system. Be the first to know about parking improvements and updates by subscribing to receive official updates directly from the City. Click here to sign up for Downtown Parking System Updates.
 City of Tacoma Awarded $7.6 Million BUILD Grant for Environmental Analysis and Final Design Phase of Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge Replacement Project
The City of Tacoma has been awarded a $7.6 million federal BUILD grant to support environmental analysis and final design for the replacement of the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge. The $9.6 million design phase includes a $2 million local match from Tacoma and Fife.
The bridge, originally built in 1927, was closed to traffic in October 2023 after failing a safety inspection. Its closure has affected commutes, access to resources for the Puyallup Tribe, and the approximately 15,000 vehicles that previously used the corridor each day.
The replacement bridge is expected to include a 15-foot shared-use path, protected sidewalks, an additional travel lane, and infrastructure designed to safely accommodate heavy freight. The project will also improve resilience to seismic and flooding events and incorporate stormwater treatment features to protect the Puyallup River and coho salmon habitat.
Environmental analysis and design are expected to begin in December 2026 and conclude by December 2027. Following this phase, the City will pursue funding for construction, which is currently estimated to cost at least $263 million.
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Feedback or Report an Issue
Need to report a pothole or broken streetlight? 📞 Call 3-1-1 or report online: tacoma.gov/311
For more information, visit our Public Works website and for the latest active transportation updates, follow the City’s active transportation team on Facebook (@mobility253) and on Instagram (@tacomamobility).
Questions or comments about active transportation policies, projects, or programs? You can reach us at tacomastreets@tacoma.gov.
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