Categories
Tacoma residents are being warned about the future of their downtown Tacoma to get-around options.
A new report from the Tacoma-based Transportation Research Institute is calling for more public-private partnerships to support the city’s transportation options.TRAINING IN TACTICS: How to use the Tacoma Transit System to get around the city in style article A new TRAINING in TACTics report shows that Tacoma residents have a strong desire to move downtown.
The report, titled “Tacoma’s Future,” was released on Thursday.
It was based on interviews with more than 2,500 residents and business owners in Tacoma.
“The key to making downtown Tacoma a truly vibrant, walkable place to live and work is the creation of a high-quality transportation system,” said Robert S. Hirsch, the institute’s director of transportation.
“A successful system is a system that delivers efficient and reliable transportation to and from the downtown core and connects people to jobs, education and recreation.”
Tacomas public transportation system, which serves downtown Tacoma, connects people with jobs, educational and recreation.
But some residents say it’s not enough.
A lack of options for getting around the area has prompted many to call for a new approach.
“Tacomas transportation system is currently in a dire need of modernization,” said John M. Wight, president and CEO of the Tacoma Area Chamber of Commerce.
“TSA and Tacoma are one of only a few cities in the U.S. that does not offer public transit to get to and/or from jobs.
A more convenient, more reliable system would be a critical part of improving the area.””
We have a lot of work to do on improving the infrastructure that connects Tacoma to jobs,” he added.
A high-speed rail system, for example, would improve transportation and transportation options for people who commute from other parts of the state.TACOMA TOXIC RESIDENTS: A look at Tacoma residents with asthma and other health problems and what you need to know about them.
A recent study by the Seattle-based nonprofit Seattle Children’s Research Institute found that the city is home to more than a quarter of the country’s 1.3 million asthma cases.
The study found that about a third of all residents in Tacoma have asthma.
Tacos current public transportation options, which include a bus system, streetcar system and light rail system are limited.
Some residents, like Mike Cavanaugh, say the system needs to be upgraded.
“It’s a mess,” said Cavanaugh.
“It’s not going to be able to accommodate the rapid growth in population that we have.”
The study also found that Tacoma’s population is growing.
According to the report, the population grew by more than 8 percent from 2008 to 2016.
The increase in population was mostly due to people moving to the city.
But it also reflected the city being built around a rail system.
Travis Siegel is the executive director of the Transportation for All Initiative, which is advocating for Tacoma’s transportation system to be more efficient.
The institute released its report with a goal to improve Tacoma’s transport options.
In its report, TRAININGS said the city needs to consider public transportation in a new way to help increase the quality of life for all residents.
“When you are growing a city like Tacoma, you need transportation options,” Siegel said.
“We’re going to have to have a look at the different options for transportation and mobility and figure out what the best way is to do that.”
For more local news, visit Tacoma’s Womens Center, where you can also find our latest issue.
