I-5 South 38th Street Exit to Open Early

Good news for Tacoma area motorists—the new I-5 South 38th Street exit is set to open early. Currently, the 38th Street exit, which provides access to the Tacoma Mall and is a part of the I-5/SR 16 Eastbound Nalley Valley project, is closed to traffic. The new ramp, which was originally scheduled to open the end of next month, will now open early due to, “Good weather, detailed planning and rapid progress” (Baker, 2013, para. 2).

In a press release last week, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said the exit could reopen as early as Tuesday, but noted that “a dry night for roadway striping is necessary to tie the new ramp into the highway” (para. 5). The recent rain in the area may briefly postpone the early reopening.

For more updates and information on this project, visit WSDOT’s website.

References

Baker, C. B. (2013). New I-5 exit to South 38th St. opens five weeks early. Olympia, WA: WSDOT.

June RAMP Recap

The Puget Sound Gateway Project was a major theme of June’s RAMP meeting. Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton, John White of WSDOT, and Tom Gut from the City of SeaTac presented, noting how Ports connect statewide, national, and international markets to people, jobs, and the economy.

Creighton, White, and Gut described Washington as “one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation, noting that “In 2010, freight dependent industries shipped $128.8 billion in domestic product and supported nearly 1.5 million freight-dependent jobs in Washington.”
Completing State Route 167 and 509 would expand infrastructure critical to maintaining and growing port business, as well as sustaining and growing Washington State’s freight dependent industries.

Let’s finish what we’ve started and invest in the future!

Funding for 167 Still Alive

Senator Curtis King (R- Yakima), Co-Chairman of the Republican Senate Transportation Committee, prepared a transportation revenue package that allocates $1.53 billion toward completing State Route 167 and 509, a major priority for the Tacoma- Pierce County Chamber. King’s preparation of the package signifies that the resolve to complete 167 is still alive in the legislature and could pass in a second special session.

Additional Pierce County projects King’s transportation package funds include $350 million for I-5 JBLM corridor improvements and $55 million for I-5/ SR 512 Lakewood interchange improvements.

Revenue would be raised by a 10 ½ cent gas tax and an increase in vehicle weight fees.

6/5 RAMP 8AM

AGENDA  -  June 5, 2013

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            Pat McCarthy, RAMP Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive             

8:05     Federal Transportation Planning and Funding

            Charlie Howard, Puget Sound Regional Council

8:25     Puget Sound Gateway Project: SR-509

John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commissioner

John White, WSDOT

Tom Gut, City of SeaTac

Doug Levy, City of Kent

8:45     Round Robin

            Legislative Update

     

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Tom Pierson, RAMP Co-Chair, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO

           

Next RAMP Meeting

TBD

Remember to visit On RAMP

The partnership’s blog is at http://on-ramp.blogspot.com/.  New content appears on a regular basis. Guest blog postings are encouraged, contact David Schroedel for details, Davids@tacomachamber.org.

RAMP is a regional coalition including business, labor, public and private organizations and citizens dedicated to improved mobility in the South Sound and Washington State.  Our mission is to ensure a healthy regional economy associated with the development of an effective, efficient transportation system and the resources to sustain it. RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson.