Citizen Advisory Committee Station Relocation RECOMMENDATIONS May 1, 2013

Acknowledgements

Advisory Committee Members Jori Adkins ...... Dome Business District Elizabeth Burriss ...... New Tacoma Neighborhood Council Pierson Clair ...... Brown & Haley Su Dowie ...... Foss Waterway Development Authority Don Erickson ...... City of Tacoma Planning Commission Jason Fritzler ...... KPG Tina Lee ...... Pierce Transit Jane Moore ...... Coalition for Active Transportation David Schroedel ...... Tacoma/Pierce County Chamber Keith Stone ...... Dome Business District Andrew Strobel ...... Puyallup Tribe Milt Tremblay ...... University of - Tacoma David Talcott ...... Huitt-Zollars Janice McNeal ...... Dome Business Association Todd Huber ...... Brown & Haley

American Institute of Architects, SWW Aaron Winston ...... BLRB Architects Les Geerstmann ...... BLBR Architects Ko Wibowo ...... McGranahan Architects

Interested Parties David Boe ...... City of Tacoma Councilmember Brian Borgelt ...... Freighthouse Square Ricardo Noguera ...... City of Tacoma, CEDD Director Jim Guizzetti ...... Freighthouse Square Peter Huffman...... City of Tacoma, PDS Director Chris Larson ...... City of Tacoma, Engineering Ian Munce ...... City of Tacoma, PDS Special Projects Shari Hart ...... City of Tacoma, CEDD Cheri Gibbons ...... City of Tacoma, PDS Planner Erin Hunter ...... Chelsea Levy ...... Sound Transit Rachel Smith ...... Sound Transit i Background

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is engaged in upgrading the Amtrak West Coast Corridor with funding secured from the U.S. Department of Transportation to expand high-speed rail corridors. As a part of that effort the Point Defiance Bypass Project moves the route inland to the east side of Tacoma cutting 10 minutes from the route and upgrading the track to support high speed service. As a result the existing Amtrak station sits on the abandoned portion and must be moved to serve the new route. WSDOT has identified the historic Freighthouse Square development (where the Sounder commuter train station is currently located) as the preferred location for the new station.

The citizen advisory committee was formed by the City of Tacoma to review the proposed relocation of the Amtrak train station, currently located at 1001 Puyallup Avenue, to the Freighthouse Square mixed-use retail facility at 2501 East “D” Street. The City of Tacoma has already engaged in the development of a sub-area plan for the Tacoma Dome District where Freighthouse Square resides in its core. The City has identified potential conflicts of the station relocation proposal with District goals, which include blocking of East “C” and East “D” Streets during train stops as well as designating surface parking in the District center for train users, as top concerns. Among the Committee’s primary goals was to identify these and other issues potentially in conflict with the long-term goals of the Dome District and make recommendations relevant to the probable siting of the Amtrak station at Freighthouse Square.

The Advisory Committee met six times between February 25th and April 29th, 2013 coming up with a list of 25 recommendations, some of which were specifically applicable to the Amtrak station at Freighthouse Square and others related to improving circulation (vehicular and pedestrian) within the District, addressing off-street parking, and urban design. At its meeting on April 15th, members voted as to what they considered were their highest priorities, and based on this, 11 recommendations were found to be the most important. These are indicated on the following pages.

The Advisory Committee also overwhelmingly felt that its members should be included in reviewing the schematic, preliminary and final plans as they are developed by WSDOT and their consultants for the Tacoma Amtrak Station. We believe the AIA’s SW Section in particular should play a major role in this review.

ii TACOMA AMTRAK STATION RELOCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE - RECOMMENDATIONS AGENCIES ACTIVITY EXAMPLES/EXPLANATION PRIORITY PARKING: City/Business A Parking Management and Enforcement Plan should be and Property developed for the Dome District to ensure that all existing and future parking spaces are efficiently managed. Owners 2 dots Parking in public garages is currently “free” General Off-street parking within the district should not be “free” since in much of the day which encourages low priority reality it is not and it distorts the market in terms of supply and use. Fees for parking or in conjunction with an demand. Orca pass would encourage parking here only by 9 Allowing “no charge” parking distorts the market making the entrance of Sound and Pierce Transit users, freeing up space new market driven providers unlikely. for additional transit users as ridership grows. 5 dots Such parking contributes little to the streetscape General All-day surface parking should be located outside of the pedestrian and does little to enliven the “core” area where “core” area (see Exhibit 1) of the Dome District. pedestrian activity is supposedly centered. Parking within the “core” should be 6 designated as ‘short term’ to encourage commercial activity in this area. 6 dots For example, commuter parkers are Pierce Transit Existing parking structures should be fully utilized throughout the primarily a 6 am to 7 pm weekday activity 24 hour daily cycle as well as the seven-day weekly cycle leaving hundreds of spaces available for accommodating multiple user groups and different fee structures. evening and weekend parkers, as well as Dome event users. 3 dots WSDOT/Amtrak Consistent with limiting nearby parking to WSDOT should consider providing its longer-term Amtrak train- encourage pedestrian activity in the “core” user off-street parking outside of the “core” area of the Dome provide long-term parking for train travelers 10 District, such as under Hwy 705 whenever possible. elsewhere. 4 dots City of Tacoma New off-street parking should not be allowed to be located on Also, in order for this to work for these types of “core” pedestrian-oriented streets (see Exhibit 1) unless fully uses the height of the first floor should be designed to be at least 12’ high. enclosed within a mixed-use structure with at least the first 40’ 3 (measured from the street property line) reserved for retail and/or service type uses. 11 dots WSDOT/Amtrak Any on-street short-term parking spaces lost for commuter or train Only a limited number of such spaces should ‘drop-off/pick-up’ should be replaced in the immediate area. be provided since rail users have multiple travel modes available to them in most cases 8 5 dots

Page 1 AGENCIES ACTIVITY EXAMPLES/EXPLANATION PRIORITY PARKING: continued

Pierce Transit Transit hours/capacity should be extended to facilitate parking Link service in particular as well as Pierce Transit outside of the “core” area of the District, especially during major bus service should be extended during major Dome events. events at the Tacoma Dome. 1 dot TRAFFIC CIRCULATION: City of Tacoma Currently Puyallup Avenue functions as an east- Install traffic calming devices such as landscaped medians, widened west speedway creating a psychological barrier sidewalks, bulbed curb crossings, etc., on Puyallup Avenue between and inhibiting pedestrian crossings.

Hwy 705 on the west and E “G” street on the east to slow vehicular 5 traffic speed in this major east-west corridor. 9 dots WSDOT/Amtrak Currently safety arms block Blockage of E “C” and E “D” Streets by either trains, train-related not only E “D” Street when a safety gates, safety arms, or signaling devices must only occur train is loading or unloading when trains are passing in order to improve pedestrian and at FHS, but also E “C” Street vehicular north-south circulation throughout the district. a block away. WSDOT’s current proposal would result in these streets being blocked for longer period. Every consideration should be given to placing the platform further to the east on the existing trestle. 1

22 dots

Amtrak/City of Amtrak should continue to work with the City and WSDOT to create Tacoma a “quiet zone” throughout the core area of the District. 2 This is seen as being critical if the area is to develop as a mixed-use

residential/commercial district in the future. 13 dots City of Tacoma A system of pedestrian-oriented directional signs should be developed and placed throughout the District to facilitate pedestrian and bicycle “way-finding” both within and to destinations outside the District.

Besides the Freighthouse Square and the Tacoma Dome there is also the new LeMay- America’s Car Museum as well as the Foss Waterway to the north and the Museum of Glass and Tacoma Art Museum to the west.

2 dots

Page 2 AGENCIES ACTIVITY EXAMPLES/EXPLANATION PRIORITY TRAFFIC CIRCULATION: continued City of Tacoma “Parking Available” instant reader boards identifying major off- street parking facilities and their locations should be installed on major entrance streets into the District to more efficiently direct motorists attending Tacoma Dome events to the nearest parking facility with parking spaces available, thereby reducing unnecessary vehicle circulation throughout the district.

These signs are constantly updated and not only show the number of stalls available per location but also the direction. In Tacoma, this not only includes Pierce Transit’s 2,000 space garage across from Freighthouse Square but also parking garages along Pacific Avenue. 3 dots

City of Tacoma Multi-modal transportation alternatives should be encouraged within the District whenever possible. For example, consider installing ‘Metro-type’ bike rental or exchange kiosks at key locations throughout the district to encourage non-motorized travel.

Convenient bike rental through kiosks will assist short distance travel and encourage workers to leave their cars outside the “core”. 2 dots URBAN DESIGN: City of Tacoma Encourage a variety and diversity of uses of various sizes to help Along pedestrian designated “core” streets (see make the District a more vibrant and pedestrian friendly area. Exhibit 1) a priority should be given to attracting new uses that are visually interesting and Such uses provide convenience reducing vehicle trips while contribute to the streetscape. providing activity that will help the District become an attractive destination. 2 dots City of Tacoma Buildings fronting on “core” pedestrian designated streets should feature visually interesting retail and service type uses at street- level to increase pedestrian activity and interest in the area.

Pedestrian activity attracts more people and more business. Blank storefronts discourage activity. As long as displays do not inhibit pedestrian circulation or pose a safety hazard, outside displays should be encouraged during business hours.

Page 3 AGENCIES ACTIVITY EXAMPLES/EXPLANATION PRIORITY STATION DESIGN: WSDOT/Amtrak Preference should be given to relocating the Amtrak station to Freighthouse Square if off-street parking, street blockage, and 4 facility issues can be resolved.

A majority of the Committee members felt it was imperative to keep the Amtrak station in Tacoma and preferably at Freighthouse Square assuming impacts to the surrounding area can be adequately mitigated. 9 dots

WSDOT/Amtrak Station design should anticipate future growth of rail travel and be designed to accommodate additional users in future years.

With increasing vehicular congestion on existing freeways as well as increasing delays seen in air travel, train travel is becoming a more attractive alternative, in terms of both cost and travel time. As a means of increasing local tourism baggage storage lockers should be provided so rail users can store their luggage while visiting attractions in the Dome District or elsewhere in the city.

3 dots

WSDOT/Amtrak The Amtrak station should be designed so that it is integral to FHS with its primary ingress and egress through the central concourse of the building when Freighthouse Square is open rather than 7 through separate exterior entrances/exits.

It is realized that there may be times such as early morning or late at night when FHS will be closed and separate entrances will be required. This, however, should be the exception for ingress/egress, not the norm.

5 dots

Page 4 AGENCIES ACTIVITY EXAMPLES/EXPLANATION PRIORITY STATION DESIGN: continued WSDOT/Amtrak Waiting areas should be informative not only regarding Amtrak scheduling and destinations, but also regarding Tacoma and its multiple assets including its many educational, employment, recreational and cultural facilities. Informational kiosks should be integral to the station design both within 11 and outside the station. The Amtrak Station provides a major opportunity to inform visitors and commuters about the many assets of the city and

region.

4 dots WSDOT/City of Consideration should be given to using “1% for the Arts” monies, Tacoma for the commissioning of a large ‘station clock’ readily visible in the area near Tacoma’s multi-modal transit station.

In most countries such ‘station clocks’ are considered to be functional attributes of their train stations.

2 dots

Page 5 Exhibit 1 - Dome District Aerial showing ¼ mile “core”

Hwy 705

Puyallup Avenue E “D” St.

¼ mi. E “G” St. P

th th P P 26 Street 25 St. P P

Estimated length of Amtrak ‘Cascade’ – +600 feet long Estimated length of Amtrak ‘Starlight’ - l +1,200 feet long Probable New Station Site Point Defiance Bypass Route -

Pedestrian-oriented “Core” Streets - Potential off-street parking locations P

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