The Transportation Alternatives Program of the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) has awarded the Public Works Department of the city of Tacoma a grant of $2,119,250.
News of such grants and their benefits for the community is often made known throughout a community with poster printing.
These funds will be used to identify and design improvements to safety, enhance bicycle and pedestrian connections, and expand access to public transportation. The grant will go towards preliminary engineering and community engagement for a comprehensive traffic study, survey, and plan for design. The outcome of the project will be a transformation of Portland Avenue, which will enhance safety for all modes of travel by lowering the speeds of drivers and will foster a stronger sense of community.
At the northern end there will be connections to light rail and improvements to transit and the regional Tacoma to Puyallup Trail which is in the planning stages. The southern end will connect with the Pipeline Trail and other destinations such as Portland Avenue Park and the Eastside Community Center.
Mayor Victoria Woodards said this funding will enable the city to improve its roads and meet the goals of Vision Zero, which focuses on Portland Avenue. Woodards added that Portland Avenue is a street with a great deal of traffic used by residents to access transit and Interstate 5 so these improvements will ensure safer trips on the street for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
