Just in from the Tacoma Streetcar:

(Tacoma, WA) As Sound Transit debates a 2008 ballot measure, Tacoma
Streetcar has voted to support a ballot measure that includes an
intra-city expansion of Tacoma's existing downtown LINK streetcar
system.

Tacoma Streetcar is a local non-profit that advocates for rebuilding
an integrated streetcar network in Tacoma. Its goal is to reconnect
Tacoma's historic neighborhoods, spur economic development within the
city, and reduce the community's CO2 emissions. Last week the Tacoma
Streetcar board unanimously voted to support a Sound Transit plan
that aggressively extends the downtown LINK system outwards to other
Tacoma neighborhoods. One option the board supports is a LINK
extension stretching from Salishan to the Stadium District, and to
6th Avenue. Preliminary studies for these extensions have already
been completed by Sound Transit.

"This is a unique opportunity to implement much overdue investment in
Tacoma's neighborhoods," stated Board President Morgan Alexander. He
further asserted "a Tacoma LINK extension connecting our
neighborhoods will give voters the best bang for the buck in our
great city."

In a letter to Sound Transit officials sent last week, Tacoma
Streetcar urged that an aggressively implemented downtown LINK
extension be the focus of any 2008 Pierce County ballot proposal.

To learn more about Tacoma Streetcar, please visit
www.tacomastreetcar.org

This is good news for transit in Tacoma. The Streetcar is gaining widespread community support and taking a stand on local transportation issues. It will be interesting to see how this plays out with Sound Transit's proposal 2008 (or later) ballot measure.
As a public disclaimer I sit on their board.