I think that everyone whose seen Tacoma’s amazing makeover over the past 20 years can’t help but love the Tacoma Link Light Rail. I feel like when they put that in, I felt like we were really and truly on our way as a city! That said… um… it would be REALLY awesome if it… you know… really WENT SOMEWHERE. Right?
Don’t worry kids, Sound Transit is ON IT. They’re moving forward with the conceptual engineering and environmental review for the Link Expansion. Obviously there is still room for a lot of change, but it’s exciting to see the route coming together. You may know that after much debate on the council and requests for public feedback, they went with the E1 expansion that sent the link up to Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood (you can learn more about this from the KPLU story here). Now it seems, they’re deciding where exactly the Link will stop!
Last week grabbed my friend and #1 Client Jenny Jacobs and made her take pictures of me at the rough site of the 6 proposed future Link stops (and then I realized they’re considering a 7th stop on 6th & Division… Oops!) Then, I EXPERTLY photoshopped in VERY PROFESSIONAL imaginings of what it will look like when the link is rolling through. ENJOY!
1. Old City Hall Stop – It looks like this one will replace the current Theater District stop.
2. 4th & Stadium Way – This will be really convenient for everyone living in those apartments and condos there along St Helens and along Broadway.
3. 2nd & G – This one blew my mind, I only live a couple of blocks from here. VERY CONVENIENT!
4. MLK & Division – Just found out about this one. When I called City Councilman Ryan Mello about it he said that the goal was to keep them all at a 5 minute radius walk from each other, and that the people are requesting this stop. Then he sent me this awesome info from Sound Transit!
5. MLK & 6th Ave – The commuting Tacoma General Nurses are gonna love this stop- this will help get people closer to 6th ave and all of its myriad delights (like Marrow & Bluebeard!)
6. MLK & S 11th St – I’m already telling clients about this stop when I show houses in the Hilltop. Great location for people living at the top of the hill to take the like to the Tacoma Dome Station or to work Downtown. Awesome!
7. MLK & 19th St – The final stop ends right by St Joes! I know so many people who have bought houses near here who are going to LOVE taking the link to all the new stops around Hilltop, Stadium and Downtown.
My conclusion after visiting all the future stops? This is GREAT news for people who already own properties in Hilltop. I think Hilltop is going to be looking much more attractive to my clients who are fans of public transit and of walking and biking to work. Obviously, it will be a few more years before we’re all riding this bad boy around- but it’s going to be awesome! If you want to keep up on what’s happening with the link, check out Chris Karnes’ Tacoma Transit Blog or visit Pierce Transit’s site.
