About the Project

The City of Tacoma has studied rail crossings in the Dome District, in Old Town, and in the West End.  Issues discussed/reviewed included safety, traffic operations, non-motorized mobility, noise, and economic or other quality of life issues.  These crossings have been identified as locations of concern by local residents, business associations, and property owners.  The rail lines at these locations are managed by BNSF, Sound Transit for commuter rail (AMTRAK and Sounder) and Tacoma Rail Mountain Division.

What Has Been Done and Next Steps

(Updated December 2020)

West End (6th Avenue and S. 19th Street) 

Pre-Construction Open House: Postponed Until a Later Date  

UPDATE: Due to power outages across Pierce County impacting staff, presenters, and attendees, this event is being postponed to a later date. Please register for this event anyway, because we will email you when we have determined the new event date.

The City of Tacoma’s Public Works Department will be holding a virtual open house at a later date via Zoom webinar. Participants will learn more about the 6th Avenue and South 19th Street Rail Crossing Improvement Project and the anticipated construction schedule.  City and project staff will be available at the virtual open house to answer questions about the project. To send questions before the virtual open house or for more information on the project, contact Project Manager Mark D'Andrea at

mdandrea@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5518.
 
Click here to participate in the virtual open house, please register at this event link.  

Scope and Schedule: Pedestrian rail crossing improvements are planned at both the 6th Avenue and S. 19th Street rail crossings.  Select improvements include upgraded railroad signals, relocated vehicle railroad gates, the installation of new pedestrian railroad gates, sidewalks, curb ramps, pavement replacement, pavement markings/crosswalks, landscaping, signs and fencing.  Design, permitting and right-of-way activities are complete and the project has been advertised and awarded to a local contractor.  The City and BNSF will each be responsible for completing work in their respective rights-of-way (City to complete all sidewalks, paving, signage, etc.; BNSF will complete all rail gate/signal work).  Construction will begin on the City’s scope in February/March 2021, and the work is expected to take approximately 3-4 months.  Contracting with BNSF for construction of gate and signal work is underway.

Project Schedule for West End (6th Avenue and S. 19th Street)

• October 2020: City advertises work at 6th Avenue and S. 19th Street for construction
• February/March 2021: Construction begins for City project scope
• June/July 2021: City construction/scope complete
• BNSF construction start and duration to be determined

MCCARVER CROSSING
All crossing improvements have been installed. This includes new sidewalks, fencing, signs, pavement markings, upgraded rail signals, and the installation of two new pedestrian gates/signals on the east side of the crossing.
 
DOME DISTRICT
In preparation for Quite Zone implementation, an onsite Diagnostic Meeting was held with representatives from Sound Transit, the Federal Railroad Administration and all other rail entities using the E. C Street and E. D Street crossings.  Draft layouts have been assembled for each crossing, and contracting, design and construction discussions have been ongoing with Sound Transit.  Further work at these two crossings is on hold due to COVID-19 related budget impacts.
  

Final Rail Crossing Report

The final report addressing these rail crossings were completed in October 2018. 

Rail Crossings Map

This map shows the general location of the crossings analyzed.  

West End (6th Avenue and S. 19th Street)

Project Funding

Dome District (E. C and E. D St. Crossings)

As of June 2020, this project is currently on hold.

Contact Information

If you have questions or comments you can contact City of Tacoma Project Manager, Mark D'Andrea, at (253) 591-5518 or by email.