City of Tacoma

East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Corridor Study
Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber
July 24, 2008
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Project Area
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Focus

Transitions between mixed-use and

industrial land uses

Traffic access, circulation, maintain/

improve arterials to support existing
businesses and to help spur new private
investments
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Future Circulation Corridor Study

(Bridge/Ramps)
Concept A – Extend East D Street Concept B – Use Existing Streets
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Recommended Solutions
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Recommended Solutions
Projects B & C – East D Street & SR 509 Ramps

Project C only

B
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Recommended Solutions
Projects D, E and I (No Functioning Bridge Corridor)

E
I

D
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Recommended Solutions
Project E (Functioning Bridge Corridor)

E
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Recommended Solutions

Projects F, G and H:
East F Street, East D Street & New
East 10th Street (No Murray Morgan
Bridge)
G

H
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Three Priority Projects

• Begin needed street and rail crossing

maintenance

• Improve the East 11th Street at East F

Street/St. Paul intersection (Project E)

• Move forward with SR-509 ramp feasibility

with WSDOT and BNSF (Project B)
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Other Implementation Corridor Study

Strategies
• Develop a plan to classify heavy truck arterials and
implement heavy truck arterial design standards.

• Determine if a shared cost approach (LID or other) would be

acceptable to study-area businesses and property owners.

• As funding allows, adopt the recommended projects into the

City’s Six-Year Transportation Program 2008 amendment.

• Add all unfunded capital projects to the 2008

Comprehensive Plan/Transportation Element/Project list.
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Implementation Options

• Incorporate appropriate sections of traffic study into the

S-8 Shoreline Master Plan Regulations.
• Implement the recommended three priority projects
• Participating entities need to take study
recommendations back to their boards/commissions
• Increase coordination of advanced facility planning
between the City and the Port of Tacoma.
• Facilitate partnerships to share infrastructure costs to
maintain existing uses and to increase economic
development in the study area.
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Jay Stewart
Port of Tacoma

Don Meyer
Foss Waterway Development
Authority

Gary Brackett
Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Appendix
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Recommended Solutions
Map # Location Recommendation Cost Estimate
Both Options

Adjust traffic signal phasing (Grade Separation improvement complete and

A East D / Puyallup Ave.
B East D / SR 509
C East D / East 15th Streets
East D St. Extension (Private
D Road)2
E E. 11th / E. F St.
F East F St.
East D St. (North of E. 11th
G St.)
Operational Murray Morgan Bridge
open). $2,000
Construct Half Single Point Urban Interchange at East D St. / SR 509 (Ramps
to and from the east) and signal. $10,962,0001
Improve East 15th St. / East D St. to include 10' sidewalk on west side, SB
parking lane, 14' SB lane, 12' landscaped median/turn pocket, 14' NB lane.
Access management/driveway consolidation where needed. Also improve
pedestrian crossings at designated locations. Relocate transit stops/shelters
to crosswalk locations. $4,771,000
Extension is on private land and would require the relocation of BNSF rail
spur. Extend East D St. south of East 11th St. to link to East 15th St. (10'
sidewalk on west side, SB parking lane, 2 - 11' travel lanes, 6' sidewalk on
east side) 3. $3,354,0001
Realign intersection at East 11th St. and East F St. $682,000
Reconstruct East F Street north of East 11th St. $1, 622,000
Widen East D St. north of East 11th St. (SB parking lane and 2 - 14' lanes, 10'
sidewalk on west side. $1,760,0001

Add new east-west street (East 10th St.) between East D and East F Streets
H East 10th St. to include one 14' lane each direction and 6' sidewalk on south side. $620,000
No Murray Morgan Bridge
Extend East 11th St. west to tie into East D St.; Multi-use trail on north side
I East 11th St. linking to future shoreline esplanade and sidewalk on south side. $846,0001
Total with Operational Murray Morgan Bridge $23,773,0001
Total with Murray Morgan Bridge closed $23,999,0001
Note 1: The Cost Estimate does not include costs for Permitting, Right of Way, Utility and Agency Agreements, or Bridge removal.
Note 2: The recommendation of this planned Private Road does irrevocably commit the property owner to build the road.
Note3: The roadway cross-section was developed for cost purposes only.
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Project Purpose

The Tacoma City Council commissioned a

study to work cooperatively with the Port of
Tacoma and other area businesses to develop
a transportation corridor in the alignment of the
‘D’ Street in the East Thea Foss Peninsula area
to separate industrial and nonindustrial uses
and to address traffic and related issues among
the varied interests.
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Steering Committee Vision Statement

To identify possible transportation solutions

for the East Foss Peninsula that are
consistent with planning efforts, protect and
encourage economic development, and
facilitate a transition between co-existing land
uses of the East Thea Foss peninsula.
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Study Assumptions

• No change to existing zoning

• Recommended road projects are not subject to the
Murray Morgan bridge funding decisions
• Recognize the importance of the transportation
links between the downtown and the Peninsula
area
• Prepared planning level project cost estimates
• Emergency service levels would be unchanged
• The E. 11th Street Bridge over the Puyallup River is
approaching its service life
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Stakeholders / Existing Land Use Zoning

Prominent Landowners / Uses

 J.M. Martinac*
 Petrich Marine Dock*
 Johnny’s Dock
 Valero LP*
 Simpson Tacoma Kraft Mill*
 Globe Machinery*
 Supervalu
 Supervalu International
 Panattoni*
 Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroads
 Colonial Fruit and Produce*
 Foss Waterway Development Authority*
 Port of Tacoma*
 Conoco Phillips
 Stellar
 Port Maritime & Industrial
 NW Detention Center
 Amtrak
 Freighthouse Square
 Tacoma Dome
 USF Reddaway
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Current Conditions

East D Street at E. 15th looking South E. 15th Street at St. Paul looking West

East D Street at E. 7th looking North East F Street at E. 7th looking South
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study
Traffic Analysis Scenarios

Two access & circulation scenarios involving the

Murray Morgan Bridge and East D Street at SR-509
were analyzed as follows:

III. Fully operational Murray Morgan Bridge, D Street

overpass complete, SR509 ramps to D Street.
IV.Vehicle restricted operation of the Murray Morgan
Bridge, D Street overpass complete, and no SR 509
ramps to D Street.
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Year 2025 Traffic Level of Service

LOS No Bridge/No Ramps LOS with Bridge/Ramps

 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study
Future Circulation (No Bridge / No Ramps)

Concept A – Extend East D Street Concept B – Use Existing Streets

 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Summary of Key Points

• Study area wide need for roadway maintenance

• Desire for slip ramps at East D Street to SR 509
• Desire to increase economic/redevelopment
opportunities of underutilized parcels
• Need for improved arterial design to meet existing uses
• Desire to ensure equitable distribution of improvement
costs
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Factors Affecting Implementation

• Competing interests for limited funding

• Current economic conditions
• Availability of grant funding
• Varied opinions on separating traffic
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Other Recommended Solutions

Pedestrian Links
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Alternative Concept

Gateway, Shared Use Path, Nonmotorized Bridge

 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Roadway Network
Freeways
 Interstate 5
 Interstate 705
 SR 509

Principal Arterials
 Puyallup Avenue
 Portland Avenue
 East 11th Street

Minor Arterials
 East D Street
 East 15th Street
 St. Paul Avenue

Collector Arterials
 East 26th Street
 East G Street
 East L Street
 East 27th Street
 Lincoln Avenue
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Accidents

Intersection Accidents by Type

40

Accident Number 2004-2006

35 Pedestrian
30 Other
Backing
25 Head On
20 Parked Vehicle/ Fixed Object
Sideswipe/ Lane Change
15
Right Angle/ Broadside
10 Approach Turn
Rear End
5
0
e. e. e. e. e. e. e. St
. e. e. e.
Av Av Av Av Av Av Av th Av Av Av
nd ll up lup l up ll up l up a ul 11 lu p ln aul
tl a a l l l P . l c o P
or uy uy
a ya ya ya t. tE ya in t.
.P .P .P Pu Pu Pu .S .a Pu .L .S
tE tE tE t E. t E. t E. tE A ve t E. a tE a tE
a a a a a
. . . .a . .a St
.
au
l
e.
a e. e.
St St St St St ve Av Av
6t
h .D .L yA
th .P Av
2 E E .G E E.M le 15 St n d a nd a nd
. . rt l l
E. in E E rtl
a rt
cK Po Po Po
M
E. E. E.
E.

Intersection Location
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Freight
Truck Routes
 Portland Avenue
 Puyallup Avenue
 East D Street
 St. Paul Avenue
 East 11th Street

Rail Facilities
 BNSF/ UPRR
 Tacoma Rail Mountain Division
 BNSF Log Yards
 UP Tacoma Yards
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Non-Motorized Facilities
Pedestrian Gaps / Barriers
 Portland Avenue (N. of St. Paul)
 Portland Ave (West side), S. of SR 509
 St. Paul near 11th and 15th
 D St. north of Puyallup (in progress)
 D / F Streets north of 11th Street
 25th Street East of J Street
 26th Street East of G Street

Bicycle Gaps / Barriers

 Puyallup Avenue
 D Street (North of SR 509)
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Transit
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Corridor Study

Current Planned Projects

Bridge Projects
 East D Street Overpass
 East 11th Street Bridge
 Lincoln Avenue Bridge
 Puyallup River Bridge
 I-5 / McKinley Avenue Bridge
 I-5 / L Street Bridge
 I-5 Puyallup River Bridge

Road / Interchange Projects

 Portland Avenue Overlay
 Lincoln Avenue Overlay
 I-5 / Portland Avenue Interchange

Transit Projects
 Bus PLUS within Peninsula
 New Trunk Route from Lakewood to
Tacoma Dome
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Current Planned Projects Corridor Study

(Unfunded)
Road / Interchange Projects
 East D Street Slip Ramps
 East C Street Extension
 I-5 HOV Direct Access near Tacoma
Dome
 East L Street Signals
Non-Motorized Projects
 East 11th Street Trail
 St. Paul Avenue Trail
 Portland Avenue Trail
 East 25th Street Trail
 SR 509 Trail
 Waterfront Esplanade
 Puyallup Avenue Bike Lanes
 East D Street Bike Lanes (over I-5)
 East G Street Bike Lanes (over (I-5)
 East 26th Street/River Road Bike Lanes
 Improved pedestrian facilities on Puyallup
Avenue, East C St., East 26th St.
 East C Street connection to waterway

Transit Projects
 Light Rail to Seattle
 Downtown Circulator
 Tacoma Dome Multi-Modal Station
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Area A Options (No Bridge / No Corridor Study

Ramps)
East D or F Street Extension Use Existing Streets
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Area B Options (No Bridge / No Corridor Study

Ramps)
East D Street / 15th Street Boulevard East D Street / 15th Industrial
Road
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Area C Options (No Bridge / No Corridor Study

Ramps)
East D Street Boulevard East D Street Industrial Road
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Area D Options (No Bridge / No Corridor Study

Ramps)
East D Street Boulevard East D Street Industrial Road
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation
Area A Options (Operational Bridge / SR Corridor Study

509 Ramps)
East D or F Street Extension East D and F Streets
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Area A Options (Operational Bridge / Corridor Study

SR 509 Ramps)
Use Existing Streets
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Area B Options (Operational Bridge / Corridor Study

SR 509 Ramps)
East D Street / 15th Street Boulevard East D Street / 15th Industrial
Road
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Area C Options (Operational Bridge / Corridor Study

SR 509 Ramps)
East D Street Boulevard East D Street Industrial Road
 City of Tacoma
East Thea Foss Waterway Transportation

Area D Options (Operational Bridge / Corridor Study

SR 509 Ramps)
East D Street Boulevard East D Street Industrial Road