The New York Times had a good piece yesterday on the national trend to reinstate streetcars as a transportation and urban development tool. It is worth the read.

As expected our neighbor to the South gets some mad props:

Streetcar advocates point to Portland, Ore., which built the first major modern streetcar system in the United States, in 2001, and has since added new lines interlaced with a growing light rail system. Since Portland announced plans for the system, more than 10,000 residential units have been built and $3.5 billion has been invested in property within two blocks of the line, according to Portland Streetcar Inc., which operates the system.

But Tacoma gets mentioned as well!

“In years gone by, people would move to cities to get a job,” Cincinnati’s city manager, Milton Dohoney, said. “Today, young, educated workers move to cities with a sense of place. And if businesses see us laying rail down on a street, they’ll know that’s a permanent route that will have people passing by seven days a week.”

After looking into streetcar systems in Seattle, Tacoma, Wash., and Charlotte, Mr. Dohoney became convinced that they spur growth. “Cincinnati has to compete with other cities for investment,” he said. “We have to compete for talent and for place of national prominence.”

Perhaps one day the citizens and leaders of Tacoma will extend the LINK into its neighborhoods so it can spur more dense residential development and get people get out of their cars entirely during their commute to work in downtown…

There is an interesting story in the Bellingham Herald today about the ridership increases on Amtrak. They specifically talk about the increases on the Amtrak Cascade route and the Empire Builder, which runs from Seattle to Chicago. I have posted on Amtrak before and generally I am a huge fan of the train, especially taking it between Tacoma and Portland because it is a fast segment. The article cites that the primary reason for the 9% ridership boom on the Amtrak Cascade Routes is high gas prices. This is just one more example of an unintended benefit of high gas prices. People are choosing the train, a much energy efficient mode of travel, in light of 4$ a gallon gas and the desire to save money.

Pierce transit just released this. Please note that this is their scheduled fair increase and is not directly a result of falling revenues. I guess as inflation, energy, and cost of living increases so does the cost of riding public transportation.

LAKEWOOD, WA – The public is invited to attend a September 8th, 2008 Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners meeting to comment on a proposed fare revision that would be implemented in January 2009. The proposed fare would not impact local service fares for senior/disabled and youth riders; or SHUTTLE riders.

The proposed fares are as follows:

PROPOSED CURRENT

Local Adult Cash Fare $1.75 $1.50

Local Adult Monthly Pass $63.00 $54.00

Local Adult Tickets 11 tickets $17.50 11 tickets $15.00

Adult Weekend All Day Pass $3.50 $3.00

Olympia Express Adult Cash Fare $2.50 $2.00

Olympia Express Adult Monthly Pass $90.00 $72.00

Olympia Express Senior/Disabled Cash Fare $1.25 $1.00

Olympia Express Senior/Disabled Pass $45.00 $36.00

The last fare increase for Pierce Transit local routes was in March 2006, the Olympia Express fare has not changed since 1999.

The September 8th Pierce Transit Board of Commissioner’s meeting will take place at 4:00 P.M. in the Rainier Room of Pierce Transit’s Training Center, 3721 96th St. SW, Lakewood, WA.

Those who cannot attend the public hearing, may mail written comments to Pierce Transit, Attention: Jay Peterson, P.O. Box 99070, Lakewood, WA 98499-0070 or call Customer Services at 253-581-8000. To send comments via e-mail, go to www.piercetransit.org and click on the “Proposed Fare Revisions” link. Comments must be received by September 1, 2008.

King County Metro released a press release last week that lead to front page stories in the Seattle PI and Seattle Times. Due to the high price of gas the demand for transit is at its highest in decades and transit agencies across the board are experiencing huge jumps in ridership. Most transit agencies are also feeling the pain at the pump as the price of diesel, which is used to fuel the Sounder, and Sound Transit and Metro buses, is also off the charts expensive. Combine the pressure of high diesel costs with lower revenues due to the slowing economy, and many of the local transit agencies are facing tough times. As the Seattle papers report, Metro is looking at raising fairs above .25 cents or cutting service.

All of the commotion in Seattle lead me to wonder how things are going at Pierce Transit. Pierce Transit is insulated from high diesel prices because their fleet runs on Compressed Natural Gas. Lars Erickson their Public Relations Officer tells me, “under our current contract that runs until 2011, this year we pay (with federal alternative fuel refund) $0.71 gallon for CNG gallon equivalent.” .71 cents per gallon! That sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

Even though Pierce is not facing the fueling issues, their revenues are down due to a slowing economy. Pierce’s Sales tax revenues have been declining since December of 2007. The equation is fairly simple. When people have less discretionary income the first thing they are going to cut out is iPods, deck remodels, and new cars. As a result sales tax revenue goes down, and unfortunately the volatile sales tax is the primary source of revenue for transit agencies.

Pierce Transit does not have a scheduled fair increase until 2009. In the meantime they have eliminated employee out of state travel, reduced discretionary spending, and have enacted a hiring freeze for non-essential jobs. They are also going to do a comprehensive service review to make sure their transit services are directed where they are needed most. But it looks like right now no service cuts or drastic measures will have to be enacted. This is a good thing, especially considering ridership on Pierce Transit in June 2008 is up 16.5% over June 2007, with nearly 50,000 boarding a day.

We are facing a tough time as a community where the demand and desire for viable public transportation is the highest it has been since World War II. At the same time our public transit agencies are strapped for cash and doing everything they can just to maintain current service levels. This is a structural reality that can not be solved overnight.

As many of you saw, it was reported in the press today that Sound Transit is going to the ballot in 2008 for a transit only ballot measure. Apparently this plan will give Pierce County voters more bus service to the airport and Seattle and as well as increased Sounder Service.

The TNT reports:

It also would provide matching funds for a possible extension of the Link rail line in downtown Tacoma to Tacoma General Hospital or to the Puyallup Tribe casino and planned resort on Tacoma’s East Side.

This is a very interesting piece that Tacoma Streetcar advocates will be watching closely. I know that the Tribe in the past has proposed putting up matching funds to get the LINK to the casino, which would probably include a stop on Portland Ave. It will be interesting to see what the matching funds financing would actually look how much the tribe or the City of Tacoma would have to contribute to the LINK extension. I have an inquiry into Sound Transit about this and I will let you know when I learn more.

To read Sound Transit's full press release go here.

This came into my inbox yesterday evening from Sound Transit. I was thankful I wan not trying to take the train yesterday. Did anyone’s commute severely delayed? Thankfully Sound Transit runs buses from Tacoma to Seattle during the rush hour. I just hope nobody in Puyallup or Tukwila trying to catch the one afternoon northbound train got stuck, where bus connections are much less frequent and direct.

7/7 4:46pm

Due to an accident involving a northbound Amtrak train between the Kent and Auburn Stations, all southbound Sounder trains will experience delays out of King Street Station in Seattle.

Southbound Sounder train #1507 departing Seattle at 4:45 p.m. has been CANCELLED.

Northbound Sounder train #1510 departing Tacoma for Seattle at 4:45 p.m. has been CANCELLED. Please board ST Express Route 594 for service to Seattle instead.

Please check back as updates become available.

KUOW once again dove into the streetcar and transit discussion on their 9am show this morning. You can listen to the whole show on their website. It is a fairly interesting program. Although it’s Seattle focused on Seattle’s streetcar plan, the conversation is relevant to Tacoma and streetcar movement in our city. Also Seattle and Tacoma share a history where the neighborhoods were founded by streetcar stops.

One of the guests on the show is the owner of KAPOW coffee who sold the famous South Lake Union Trolley shirts. Robin Williams sports one in their store here. From www.ridetheslutshirts.com</div>