D-to-M Street Track and Signal Work
Project Updates
Phase 3 - last phase of construction
Safety is good for business
Placement of steel for Pacific Avenue rail bridge
Environmental mitigation
Remnant land parcels
Business outreach
Related information
Stay informed
Construction is underway on the D-to-M Streets Project
Construction is underway on Sound Transit's 1.4-mile D-to-M Streets track and signal project. The project is building new tracks between East D and South M Streets and installing train signaling systems between Tacoma and Lakewood. A new railroad bridge over Pacific Avenue will keep traffic flowing on that busy roadway without interruption from trains crossing overhead. This is the final link needed to prepare for the extension of Sounder commuter rail service to South Tacoma and Lakewood Stations beginning in 2012.
Construction began in fall 2010 and will last into 2012. During construction, detours are in place while some streets and intersections are completely rebuilt.
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Project Facts
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Between East D and South M Streets in Tacoma.
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| Sound Transit Budget: |
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$161.6 million
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| Funding Partners |
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Federal Railway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, WSDOT, and BNSF
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| Planning partners: |
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BNSF, City of Tacoma, Tacoma Rail, WSDOT Rail, and the Project Advisory Committee
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| Consultants and contractors: |
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MidMountain Contractors, Inc. for construction, BERGER/ABAM and Herrera for environmental review, HDR for preliminary engineering and feasibility studies, and Parsons Brinckerhoff for enhanced preliminary engineering and final design.
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| Project Timeline: |
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Final design was completed December 2009; construction began in fall 2010 and will be completed in late 2012.
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Phase 3 - last phase of construction
Pacific Avenue will reopen on March 19, two and a half months ahead of time. Work for the second of three construction phases included installing new utilities, excavating and regrading Pacific Avenue, installing new streets and sidewalks, building new walls, installing steel for the Pacific Avenue rail bridge and beginning work on the rail alignment from South C to M streets and the reconfiguration of South C Street.
This is a major milestone but there is remaining work to be done and continued traffic control. The goal is to complete construction this summer, engage in operations testing and open Sounder service to South Tacoma and Lakewood late this year.
South C Street from South 25th Street to South Tacoma Way is still closed for roadway and street improvements. The closure is expected to last until April. Cars will be detoured up South 25th Street to Jefferson Avenue in order to get onto South Tacoma Way. Signage will be placed to detour traffic. Pedestrians will be able to access South Tacoma Way via South C Street through a dedicated pedestrian path. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this work.
Download driving detour map (pdf, 1.2 mb)
Safety is good for business
A speaker from Sound Transit will share train safety tips with your business or organization. Because everyone knows that safety afects the bottom line. Call 206-398-5095 or email carol.doering@soundtransit.org to schedule.
Placement of steel for Pacific Avenue rail bridge
The Sound Transit contractor on the D- to- M Streets Sounder construction project will lift and place a 110-foot- long, 100,000-pound steel girder that will serve as the rail bridge over Pacific Avenue.
The span placement marks a significant milestone in the construction project that will extend Sounder commuter rail service to Lakewood beginning late next year.
Watch a time lapse video here.
Environmental mitigation
The D-to-M Streets Project will fill just less than a half-acre (0.46 acre) of wetlands, streams and buffers. These impacts result from excavation required to build retaining walls and utilities in and near the wetlands.
To mitigate these impacts, Sound Transit is partnering with Metro Parks Tacoma to build a new project in McKinley Park that will:
- Excavate fill material to re-create 0.45 acre of wetland (adjacent to an existing wetland)
- Create a new stream channel
- Remove invasive species and plant native trees and shrubs, enhancing 0.38 acre of existing wetland
- Remove non-native invasive plant species and replant with native trees and shrubs, enhancing 1.75 acre of buffer
The project also will construct a trail segment and boardwalk to complete a loop trail around the site. Sound Transit is partnering with Metro Parks Tacoma to design, build and install an interpretive sign.
Remnant land parcels
Because construction of the D-to-M Streets Project requires a work area larger than what is needed for the finished track improvements, remnant parcels of surplus property will remain in some locations after construction is complete in 2012.
The size and location of remnant land parcels will affect their suitability for future use. Sound Transit is working with the City of Tacoma and the Cascade Land Conservancy to develop an approach for developing some remnant parcels as public open space.
Download a fact sheet about the remant parcels >>>
Business outreach
Sound Transit is partnering with Dome District, Hillside residents and business owners and the Downtown Merchants Group (DMG) to develop strategies to help businesses minimize construction impacts during work on the D-to-M Streets Project.
In addition to preserving access to local businesses, Sound Transit supports existing community-driven business development activities. For the second year in a row, Sound Transit partnered with the City of Tacoma, the Business Improvement Area (Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber) and the Downtown Merchants Group and Dock Street Marina to produce Tacoma + Eat. Shop. Do., a promotional business guide/map featuring local businesses. This year 50,000 copies of the guide will be distributed by participating businesses, hotels and other visitor and tourism facilities.
Sound Transit and Dome District representatives unveiled new promotional banners on neighborhood light poles. The banners create a pedestrian-friendly streetscape and help visitors locate neighborhood points of interest.
To minimize business impacts during the closure of Pacific Avenue, Sound Transit convened a working group of local business leaders. This group identified concerns of the business community and develop a strategy to encourage shoppers and visitors to come to Downtown, Hillside and Dome District neighborhoods. The final product was the BE DOWNTOWN holiday campaign, which included sponsorshop of the Polar Plaza ice rink, advertising, Tacoma + Eat. Shop. Do. maps, holiday decorating and lighting atnd Tacoma Link Llight Rrail stations, and the Polar Plaza Express. This campaign was in place until through the holiday season.
Additional promotional tools used to drive people to the business districts affected by construction include but are not limited to district website creation, online and print advertising, signage, and event sponsorship.
Related information
Stay informed
- Contact South Corridor Outreach Lead Erin Hunter
- Sign up for e-mail project alerts
- Construction hotline: 1-888-298-2395 to report any construction related issues
- Request a presentation for your group by contacting Erin Hunter
Project Contact
If you have questions about this project,
please contact:
Erin Hunter
Community Outreach South Corridor Lead
401 S. Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone:(206) 370-5511
Fax:(206) 398-5217
erin.hunter@soundtransit.org
For more information about Sound Transit
Contracting opportunities? Bus and train service? Contact us at:
main@soundtransit.org
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