Sound Transit Link streetcar panel asks for, gets feedback

Tension rippled through a forum Friday held by city and Sound Transit officials on the extension of downtown’s Link streetcar.

In a conference room at the University of Washington Tacoma, about five dozen residents and three members of the City Council came to hear an update on plans for the $80 million voters approved for a Link extension in 2008.

The news of the day: The recession has taken the total available amount down a bit, to about $75.6 million. A community stakeholder group of about 20 people starts work next week to decide what Tacoma wants from the extension. After that, work begins in earnest to narrow down route choices, finalize design and find the money to pay for it all. That will last into mid-2012, Sound Transit officials estimate.

Community participation and feedback are welcome and important, officials emphasized.

“We look forward to your participation and your neighbor’s participation,” said Greg Walker, planning and development director of Sound Transit.

But some in the room who participated in the previous city-led route design process said they were bothered by the impression they got that Sound Transit is starting with a blank slate for route design.

“We have identified routes three years ago,” said Chris Karnes, a local transit advocate.

“We want to see a map of what is proposed for Tacoma,” said Judie Fortier, who said about 10 percent of her condominium neighbors on Broadway were at the meeting because they don’t want the streetcar to go up Stadium Way. “None of us has been consulted. We hear a smattering on blogs and rumors.”

The forum started with presentations from Walker and Bill LaBorde of Transportation Choices Coalition, an advocacy group. LaBorde talked about decision-making processes in Portland and Seattle and how light rail has driven economic development in those cities.

Forty minutes in, Fortier raised her hand and asked the panel, “When will you talk about Tacoma? Because that’s what we’re here for.”

LaBorde said the idea was to try to show how other communities framed their discussions, but the smattering of applause Fortier received showed she wasn’t alone in wanting Tacoma-specific information.

Alisa O’Hanlon, a government relations coordinator for the City of Tacoma, spoke next. She said that to get the Link extension done, it will take a partnership of the city, Sound Transit and Pierce Transit. It’s time to work together, she said, and to make hard decisions.

“We have to agree that we can’t and won’t be able to do all options all at once,” O’Hanlon said.

Sound Transit’s Walker said the number in the budget for the Tacoma project now is $75.6 million, but the recession has pushed down most projects funded by the 2008 sales tax vote by about 15 percent. That would put the initial $80 million estimate closer to $68 million. This fall, the agency will go through another budgeting process that will provide a better idea of the amount available, he said.

As for the structure of the planning process, and the fact that it is expected to take 12 to 18 months, Walker said the federal government will be the biggest partner for funding, so “we have to play by their rules.”

One man asked whether the study timeline presented by Sound Transit, which runs into 2012, is being paid for by part of the $75.6 million.

It is, Walker said.

Then why are we studying this to death? the man asked.

“It could be done sooner if we knew what to do. I’ve heard half a dozen routes …” Walker said as he was interrupted.

“We’ve been telling you” which routes, the man said.

“We can’t do them all,” said the city’s O’Hanlon.

“We just want one!” the man said.

“Exactly,” O’Hanlon said.

That’s the challenge ahead, O’Hanlon told the group. “We need to step back, evaluate and come together,” she said.

O’Hanlon promised public forums, presentations, and regular updates on the city’s website starting next week, including a list of the stakeholder panel members who were chosen by two transit officials and the Tacoma city manager.

The group plans to start meetings in August. By December, they plan to make a presentation to the City Council, O’Hanlon said.

Councilmen Marty Campbell, David Boe and Ryan Mello stayed after the presentation to talk to people.

“This is a 100-plus-year decision, and we have to get it right,” Campbell said.

Kathleen Cooper: 253-597-8546 kathleen.cooper@thenewstribune.com