Duties and Responsibilities
The City of Tacoma Bicycle Pedestrian Technical Advisory Group (BPTAG) advises the Transportation Commission on active transportation-related matters. BPTAG focuses on making it safer and easier to use active transportation in Tacoma, which includes walking, using an assistive mobility device, bicycling, skating, and riding a skateboard or scooter.
Members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Technical Advisory Group play an essential role in:
- Prioritizing new bicycle and pedestrian projects throughout Tacoma.
- Providing feedback on the design of active transportation projects.
- Developing new policies to improve active transportation safety and access. Giving input on active transportation programs and events.
- Bringing community concerns to the attention of City staff and leaders.
Recent BPTAG accomplishments include helping:
- Provide feedback on the design of the City’s first cycle track/protected bike lanes on E 64th St from Pacific Avenue to E McKinley Avenue
- Develop new rules related to active transportation & micromobility (shared scooters) – including where electric scooters are allowed to ride and City’s helmet policy
- Select priority projects for grant opportunities – including the City’s recently completed First Mile/Last Mile Connection to Transit grant which striped bike lanes on Mildred Street connecting the Tacoma Community College Transit Center to the Scott Pierson Trail and the City's successful WSDOT grant application to build protected/buffered bike lanes on Cedar St from S 15th St to Center St and improve pedestrian safety and access along the corridor
- Provide input on partner projects that relate to active transportation safety & access, including Sound Transit’s Tacoma Dome Link Extension Project and the South Tacoma Sounder Station Access Project
Membership
BPTAG consists of 11 voting members, plus one alternate. Members are City of Tacoma residents with knowledge or first-hand experience about pedestrian, bicycle, health, parks and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) issues.
| Dana Brownfield |
December 2023
|
| Michael Dehner |
March 2024 |
| Jennifer Halverson-Kuehn |
August 2022 |
| Julian Helmer |
August 2024
|
| Kerri Hill |
December 2023 |
| Teena Johnson |
August 2024
|
Max Lopez-Garibaldi
Youth Position (Age 16-18) |
June 2022 |
| Matt Pavolka |
November 2024 |
| Anne Artman |
December 2024 |
| Tyler Russell |
August 2024 |
| Cindy Schaarschmidt |
April 2022 |
Kessa Claire-Woldt - Alternate
Youth Position (Age 16-18) |
June 2022
|
To be notified of future openings - email lkaster@cityoftacoma.org to be added to the BPTAG mailing list or watch our social media pages for announcements - find us on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.
Meetings
Meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and are currently being held virtually. Please see the monthly meeting agenda for options to participate virtually. When in-person meetings are safe to resume, they will either be held at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market St., Room 243) or in a virtual/hybrid format.
Establishment
In 2013, the City Council adopted Resolution 38669 to establish a Transportation Commission. The Bicycle Pedestrian Technical Advisory Group (BPTAG), formerly the Bicycle Pedestrian Action Committee (BPAC) was formed to advise the Transportation Commission on active transportation issues.
Staff Support
Staffing support to BPTAG is provided by the Public Works Engineering Division. For more information about BPTAG or applying for membership, contact the City's Active Transportation Coordinator, Liz Kaster, at lkaster@cityoftacoma.org or 253-591-5380.