Work on Tacoma's Historic Water Ditch Trail is entering its second half, with Phase 2 construction underway and detailed design options on Phase 3 and 4 are taking shape for a trail system that would run from South Tacoma to downtown.
Work first started on the historic trail system in 2006 as a way to reuse part of a 110-year-old trail system that once crossed Tacoma and extended to Mount Rainier as part of the city’s water system. All totaled, the trail will restore 6.5 miles and serve as the only trail linking South Tacoma with downtown, the Tacoma Dome area and the Thea Foss Waterway by the year 2016. The project will include curb ramps, new storm drains, pedestrian crossing markers, a traffic signal upgrade for pedestrian safety, and trail user amenities including pedestrian level lighting, benches, sign and bike racks.
Phase 1 is constructed and runs from South 38th Street to South Pine Street along South Tacoma Way, and from South 60th Street to South 72nd Street along South Clement Street and then from South 47th to South 56th Street along South Clement Street for a cost of $1.6 million.
Phase 2 is under construction and will run from South 80th Street and South Tacoma Way to 72nd Street at Arlington School, between South 56th and South 60th Street along South Clement Street and connect to the Sound Transit line at 58th Street starting at South Montgomery. The work is set to cost about $2.6 million. Construction of Phase 2 is expected to be complete in March.
The Phase 3 work is being designed now but will run along South Tacoma Way between South Pine Street and South M Street. Detailed costs have not been determined but estimate run between $1 million and more than $2 million, while the design work will cost $350,000.
The final phase is also under design and will run along South Tacoma Way between South M Street and South C Street at a cost of about $2.5 million.
City planners have four working options for the third leg of the train that will include a raised concrete path that would allow walkers and cyclists to use the south side of the street safely without hampering car traffic. Options under review also call for bike lanes on both sides of the roadway, but doing that would eliminate a turn lane as well as raise costs by about $2 million because of the need to relocated utility lines. But it is also the most popular with residents who would use the trail. One option to avoid the added cost would be to shift the trail to the north side of the roadway, but that would mean the elimination of a lane of traffic.
Public hearings on the plans are in the works for February, when staff will have more detailed cost estimates and design options. Future plans call for a coordinated effort to extend the trail south to the City of Lakewood and out into unincorporated Pierce County.