Update on BRT Community Line

Pierce Transit is committed to providing a high-capacity transit project that provides the best service possible with the funds the agency has available. Due to inflation and other factors, the cost of the Tacoma-to-Spanaway BRT project has increased beyond the financial resources available. In addition, detailed development work has shown the project as originally planned would have significant property impacts along the corridor. Pierce Transit is committed to delivering high-capacity service that is within budget, minimizes property impacts, and delivers the service as soon as possible. To achieve these goals and be the best steward of public funds, the agency is pausing the BRT project until the work can be done in coordination with other corridor improvement projects. In the meantime, we are provisioning a new Enhanced Bus service overlaid on Route 1 from Spanaway to Tacoma Dome Station that includes a new stop at Tacoma Dome Station for key transit connections, including Sound Transit’s Link T Line into downtown.

Why Pause the Stream Community Line?

Costs. Projected costs for Pierce Transit’s Stream Community Line BRT project have increased to well beyond what the agency can afford with current funding sources.
- This is due to a number of factors, including inflation; COVID-related supply chain issues affecting the construction marketplace; additional time needed for new processes, procedures and partnerships; and information gleaned from the work completed to date (e.g., a larger-than-anticipated number of impacted properties and utility moves, required roundabouts and air space leases, bottlenecks at both State Route 512 and S. 38th, and a longer term need to widen State Route 7 to allow for dedicated transit lanes).
- Even with hard-fought current funding of $60M from ST3, $26M in state funds, $75M in a pending Small Starts grant and other federal and Pierce Transit funds, the updated cost of the project as originally planned is running well beyond secured funding.
Time. As more project requirements came into play, the timeline to deliver the BRT has continually been moved out, most recently to 2028.
Impacts. As the project team completed the detailed work to lay out the BRT block-by-block as planned (including with new requirements, such as roundabouts), the number of impacted properties along the corridor rose to well over 300.
Coordination Opportunities. The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to make significant safety and other improvements to the Pacific Avenue corridor in the future through their “Complete Streets” program. In addition, the City of Tacoma is conducting a “Picture Pac Ave” project, creating a long-term vision and plan for growth and development along Pacific Avenue. Rather than having Pierce Transit implement the BRT on our own now, it makes more sense to wait and conduct these projects in a coordinated fashion, thus ensuring the work is complimentary and avoiding multiple rounds of construction. As our partners undertake corridor improvements, Pierce Transit will work with them to incorporate a BRT system as part of the overall plans for the area.
Pierce Transit is committed to:
- Delivering a high-capacity transit project to our community that is within a budget the agency can afford to not only start, but finish.
- Minimizing impacts to property owners and businesses along the corridor, who are already struggling to recover from COVID-related and inflationary pressures.
- Delivering enhanced transit services along this corridor as soon as possible, rather than five or more years from now.
- Coordinating with our partners as they plan corridor improvements to incorporate improved transit along Pacific Avenue/SR-7.

To Achieve These Goals:

Pierce Transit has explored ways to reduce the BRT project’s costs through value engineering, a systematic approach to providing the necessary functions of a project at the lowest cost. However, there is a risk that the value engineered design may not qualify for FTA funding.
We are adding, on top of Route 1, an enhanced bus service along this corridor (essentially an express route with fewer stops that will offer a new connection to Tacoma Dome Station) to provide a quicker ride from Spanaway to Tacoma Dome Station. This meets the definition of a high-capacity transit option.
The Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners held study sessions July 10 and Aug. 14 to examine these options and take public comment. At the Aug. 14 meeting Commissioners unanimously passed a motion to pause the BRT project and begin planning to implement Enhanced Bus service from Spanaway Transit Center to Tacoma Dome Station, with the goal of beginning service in late March 2024.

Enhanced Bus Service

Can be implemented as soon as March 2024, at least four years sooner than even a simplified BRT
Will be offered in addition to the existing Route 1, providing another option on weekday mornings and afternoons for commuters looking to make a more direct trip
Provides near-term relief for overcapacity Route 1 riders
Significantly reduces impacts on property owners and businesses
Stops only at 14 major bus stops, saving 28 minutes of round-trip travel time between Spanaway and Tacoma Dome Station
All Enhanced Bus stops will have shelters
Is more affordable than the BRT and will not require additional grant funding
Uses existing bus stops and existing 40-foot buses
Includes Transit Signal Priority, which keeps the traffic light green longer while the bus gets through the intersection, contributing to a faster trip for both Enhanced Bus and regular Route 1 service
Will provide a new and vital connection to Tacoma Dome Station, including timed connections with Sounder trains

Click HERE to view August 15, 2023 Press Release

Archived Timeline

2023 Updates

Thank you for your interest in Pierce Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The BRT project is at about 60 percent design. This is the South Sound’s first BRT line and has required extensive and in-depth planning, with new partners and processes. Recent work entailed partner coordination on requirements related to permitting and running service along a state highway and gathering more details on anticipated costs. Below is a summary of recent project activity and desired outcomes.

Overall Status

Anticipated costs for the BRT project have risen significantly. This is due to several factors, including inflation; COVID-related supply chain issues affecting the construction marketplace; and additional time and associated expenses needed for new processes, procedures and partnerships. New information was gleaned from the work completed to date, such as requiring more utility moves than anticipated, potential roundabouts, and air space leases due to center running ways. As the project team worked to lay out the BRT block by block as planned (including with new requirements, such as roundabouts), the number of impacted properties has risen significantly, not only affecting local property owners, but significantly increasing costs.

Even with hard-fought current funding of $60M from ST3, some state funds, federal grants, and local and agency funds, the cost of the project as originally planned is running well beyond the funding available. Also, as we have worked through the issues outlined above and the increased time to address them, the timeline to deliver the original BRT project has been continually moved out, currently to 2028.

Pierce Transit is Committed to:

Delivering an express transit service to our community that is within a budget the agency can afford to not only start, but finish.
Delivering this much-needed service to our community as soon as possible, rather than five or more years from now.
Minimizing impacts to property owners and businesses along the corridor, who are already struggling to recover from COVID-related and inflationary pressures.

To Achieve These Goals:

Pierce Transit is exploring ways to reduce the BRT project’s costs through value engineering work, which is a systematic and organized approach to providing the necessary functions of a project at the lowest cost.
- A value engineering workshop was held May 30 to June 1, with project partners working to establish a common understanding and agreement on the requirements for design elements and processes.
- The design team and Pierce Transit staff are further developing approaches to provide more accurate cost, schedule, and risk information for evaluation.
The Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners will hold a study session in July to examine possible changes to the project that will help achieve the goals outlined above.
The public is invited to comment at the July study session and can submit comments and questions anytime using the BRT website, email, and phone numbers listed below.
Following Board review and staff evaluation, recommendations will be made for a direction to move the project forward in a manner Pierce Transit can afford and that delivers more quickly for our community.

Refresher on the Stream Community Line BRT Project

What is Bus Rapid Transit?

BRT is an innovative, high-capacity, fast transportation option that combines the speed and feel of light rail with the flexibility, lower cost and simplicity of a bus system.
Pierce Transit’s multi-line BRT system will be called “Stream,” and the first line, called the “Community Line,” will run from downtown Tacoma to Spanaway.
BRT reduces traffic congestion and tailpipe emissions and provides access to fast, reliable transit for those with low incomes, those who do not own a car, cannot operate a vehicle and/or face other barriers to private transportation ownership.

Program: The Community Line is the first of multiple BRT Stream lines planned for Pierce County.

Project: 14.4-mile BRT line that will provide rapid and frequent transit service between downtown Tacoma and Spanaway.

Project Partners: Federal Transit Administration, WSDOT, City of Tacoma, Parkland, Spanaway, Pierce County, MultiCare, utility partners, Sound Transit (through funding from ST3).

Design: Currently at 60 percent design completion.

Features: Easier, faster, safer ways to get on and off the bus and to your destination, including features that give buses priority traveling through traffic signals.

To learn more and get involved:

Email: BRT@piercetransit.org
Receive updates: PierceTransit.org/StayConnected(enter email, click “Bus Rapid Transit Project” category)
Phone number to call for general BRT questions: 253.983.3407

2021-22 Key Changes

Pierce Transit is committed to bringing fast, efficient, frequent transit service to our community. Here’s an update on our BRT 1 Stream service.

Station refinements
Adjustments at 56th Street (no roundabout)
Roundabout at 96th
Curbside stations between 64th and 84th

Revised Design and Timeframe

Due to challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and delays in design and permitting, the new service is expected to begin early 2027.

Pandemic-driven inflation prompted “value engineering” of the project, which means we are looking for ways to reduce costs while retaining the project’s benefits. One way we have done this is by creating three right-sized station designs (24, 18 and 13 feet wide), depending on projected ridership at station locations. For example, the station at 112th St. will see many riders getting on and off to access businesses and make transfers to other routes, so it will feature a 24-foot station canopy. The station in the quieter residential area at S. 64th St., connecting with the east-west cycle track, will have a modest 13-foot canopy.

The intersection at S. 56th St. will remain signalized (with traffic lights) and will likely not feature a traffic circle (roundabout), as previously explored. Project partners are working on that change now. A traffic circle is planned for S. 96th St. to improve travel times and reduce congestion. Pedestrian crossings and offset boarding locations are a priority at this roundabout to manage traffic flow and provide safe accessibility.

Some sections of the corridor that were previously identified for median, transit-only lanes will now be designated curbside in mixed-use traffic, much like Route 1 runs today.

By decreasing right-of-way impacts and construction costs, we reduce risk to the project schedule and budget. Provided things move forward as planned with permitting and available supplies, construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2024.

Partners Get on Board

Pierce Transit is pleased to announce that Pacific Lutheran University, with long-standing connections in Pierce County, has lent community support to the BRT project and will receive naming rights to two BRT stations at Pacific Ave & Garfield Street.

This partnership provides PLU identification at both stations, in audible bus stop announcements and on BRT maps. It brings new meaning to the school’s rallying cry, Go Lutes!

As announced last year, MultiCare is also partnering with Pierce Transit to support the BRT 1 Stream line. Riders will see MultiCare’s name on station signage near their facilities along the corridor, and throughout the system with MultiCare’s exclusive naming rights to this BRT line.

September 2021 Public Meeting Recap

To continue discussions about the BRT project, while meeting social distancing requirements, Pierce Transit hosted a live-streaming, public meeting on September 23, 2021. To all of you who participated, thank you for joining the conversation! In case you missed it, you may view a recording of the meeting below. Click here to download the open house presentation.

Get ready to Stream

The Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners selected Stream as the name for Pierce County’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Since the name was chosen for an entire BRT system, it will apply to the line planned for Route 1, as well as future Pierce Transit BRT projects on Routes 2, 3, 4 and 402.

LEARN MORE HERE

Project overview

Pierce Transit is planning a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along a 14.4-mile portion of Pacific Avenue/SR-7 between downtown Tacoma and Spanaway. The corridor is currently served by Pierce Transit’s Route 1, which has the agency’s highest ridership.

Property Owner Information

Click here for our interactive BRT Impacts map and to view all previously mailed documents.

Stream BRT in the news

TV Tacoma’s Tacoma Report May 27, 2021 episode

Current Corridor Designs

BRT Design Concepts September 2021

December 2020 VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING RECAP

To continue discussions about the BRT project, while meeting social distancing requirements, Pierce Transit hosted a live-streaming, public meeting on December 10, 2020. To all of you who participated, thank you for joining the conversation! In case you missed it, you may view a recording of the meeting below.