Dec. 1, 2007 at 12:29am

The Lessor of Two Evils : An At Grade Crossing for Sound Transit

The Tacoma City Council is set to vote on the preferred Sound Transit route on December 11th. There has been a considerable effort to change the route of Sound Transit.  However, that effort appears to be unlikely to prevail.

If Tacomans are forced to live with the proposed route, residents need to determine which is better, an at grade crossing or a elevated rail track over Pacific Avenue?

Tacoma Planning Commissioner and architect David Boe describes why an at grade crossing would be preferable:

The best option ˆ I believe ˆ is to cut the track in a open air channel through the district ˆ I think it is the best solution ˆ but ST will say it is too expensive and that they will not be able to make the magic grade of 2.85% maximum grade for the train (which is why they want to go over Pacific as it evens out the grade and makes it possible).  IF that is not possible, I would recommend going with an at-grade crossing as it is the least disruptive to the street grid, it will be significantly less expensive, it will allow some reasonable development to happen adjacent to the rail line and it can be abandoned in the future easier when the reality of the project is fully realized by the public five years after it is completed.
 
David Boe - Principal
dboe@boearc.com

BOE architects, pllc
705 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA  98402
(253) 383-7762
www.boearc.com

From what I have read and observed, Boe is correct.  There are a number of at grade crossings such as in Old Town which are working out pretty well.  However, I know of no overpass in Tacoma which is not caused considerable adjacent blight.  Plus, an overpass is around 24-7 while an at grade crossing is only noticable much when there is a train present.

A quick search of overpass and blight on Google brings up many cities which are working hard to remove elevated freeways and overpasses or to fight them due to the problems they cause to the surrounding area. Seattle is working to remove their viaduct.

Regardless of the various artist renditions of the overpass, it will ultimately look something like this:

If Sound Transit obtains the route they desire through Tacoma, it seems reasonable to have them make the crossing with the least damage to the urban landscape as possible.  Plus, one would think an at grade crossing would be the cheapest option.

Yes, the overpass would allow more cars to drive through faster.   However, such car centric policies make Tacoma a place to drive through quickly but not a place worth stopping at.....making Tacoma little more than a "a road to no where" of sorts.  

Making an area easy to travel to but blightful in the process is counterproductive and reminiscent of Tacoma destroying the buildings streetscape on Pacific Avenue to build the foreboding North and South Park Plaza Parking Garages.  People could now park easily but the reason for traveling downtown was now removed defeating the purpose.