Streetcars are now in operation in Tucson, Arizona; San Jose, San Francisco, and San Pedro, California; Denver, Colorado and many other US cities. Seattle, known more for studying ideas than implementing them is exploring six (!) new streetcar lines in addition to the South Lake Union Streetcar that just opened recently. Even Everett is considering one. 

As former Tacoma City Council member Bill Evans discusses in his new book Tacoma’s Proctor District, Images of American, many of Tacoma’s neighborhoods and business districts were founded and flourished as a result of Tacoma’s original streetcar lines.  Unfortunately, in an attempt to “modernize” the city shortly before World War II, Tacoma, like many other cities, abandoned its streetcar system in favor of buses. Since then, our formerly thriving business districts have turned into a shadow of their former selves. Commercial growth has been minimal at best with many areas decaying from disinvestment.

Fortunately, Tacoma already has a form of the streetcar: the Sound Transit LINK. It was reported that LINK ridership spiked over 500% from the previous bus line and images of the LINK are often used to show Tacoma’s revitalization. Due to increasing demand, Tacoma’s LINK has also recently extended the time it is running in downtown Tacoma until 10:00 p.m. Taking a clue from this, now is an opportune time to extend the success of the LINK streetcar to other neighborhoods.

Over the last couple years, many individuals, neighborhood, civic, and business groups have come out in support of restoring Tacoma’s streetcar system. This January, the Tacoma City Council voted to begin planning for a streetcar system. The Tacoma Parking and Transit Parking Advisory Committee representing over a dozen neighborhood and business groups also released a report supporting a streetcar network in Tacoma. 

The potential of another Sound Transit ballot proposal offers an opportunity to make a smart investment in helping build Tacoma’s streetcar system. Seattle and other areas will have beneficial projects for themselves. Tacoma should too. Expanding Tacoma’s streetcars will be an important investment in the infrastructure for our city and our neighborhoods. Investing in a LINK expansion is investing in a regional solution. Greater access and mobility will help reduce the number of cars on the road and help redevelopment efforts to create jobs where they belong: at home. The surest way to reduce traffic congestion is to reduce the need to commute in the first place. 

While the results of last years Proposition No. 1, the combined Roads and Transportation Package, are still being debated, voter feedback was clear that more public transportation solutions are desired, but the need to be smaller and with a shorter time-frame for completion. With greater access to information, voters are more savvy than they used to be. With a greater awareness of greenhouse gases and sustainability issues, they want to see a smarter transportation package, one which is environmentally sound. Voters also understand that the price of gas will only increase and that driving alone will soon become financially impractical and unsustainable. 

Tacoma Streetcar recommends that any future Sound Transit proposal must contain funding for an expansion of the existing LINK system with the goal of connecting Tacoma’s neighborhoods. Sound Transit has already taken the first step by conducting studies extending LINK East to Portland Avenue and West through the Stadium District and Sixth Ave.

Tacoma Streetcar believes that such a streetcar system is not only good transportation policy, environmentally wise and beneficial to the city and region, but is essential for any future Sound Transit proposal to pass at the ballot box. 

Morgan Alexander is the president of Tacoma Streetcar and a commercial real estate agent.