New
Will Tacoma streetcars roll again? (TNT)
New Tacoma Link extensions proposed
Part of the voter-approved plan for getting a regional transit system in the Seattle/Tacoma/Everett area is the Link short light rail/trolley line in downtown Tacoma. This line connects the Tacoma Dome bus/rail station with the downtown core and several attractions, such as the University of Washington, new Convention Center and theaters such as the Pantages.
It has been argued that this line is a bad idea as, unlike say downtown Seattle there is just not much in downtown Tacoma. However I see this as something that will drive new construction and uses already taking hold. For example, the train will go through the new convention center, and it would be possible to take a train from there to the Tacoma Dome station where one could hop a bus or Sounder train to Seattle. Or students in Seattle could take the Sounder to classes at the ever growing UW Tacoma. Or you could park downtown and go to the Tacoma Dome station, then walk the couple of blocks to the dome, or vice versa.
I grew up in Tacoma and loved it. For the past few years I lived in the Redmond area, when I started this site, but I am now in Fife, just a couple miles from the Tacoma Dome station. I started this site to document the construction of this new line, as there seemed to be little information or pictures on the project outside of the official site. After seeing the value and uses of this line over the past year I am continuing this site to cover the line and ways to best utilize it.
Please contact me with any questions, comments or ideas. I also have higher-resolution images and videos available as well.
Interesting Facts:
- Tacoma used to have an extensive cable car system removed in the 40's to be replaced by buses
- Freighthouse Square used to be a warehouse for the Milwaukee Road
© Sound Transit
Signs along I-5 for the Tacoma Dome multimodal station
Link from the new Tacoma Convention Center, November 2004