SR-7 Corridor Trip Reduction Project: Helping Residents Adopt Sustainable Transportation - Federal #2027 (074)

The successful firm will have the opportunity to develop and implement a community-based transportation options education project for residents and commuters. Participants in the project will learn about the benefits of riding the bus or train, joining a carpool or vanpool, and bicycling and walking for their local and regional trips. Transportation options training, tools, and support services will support participants through the adoption process.

The Pierce County Planning and Public Works Department is a diverse department with motivated professionals working to ensure Pierce County is positioned to handle growth while building, operating, and maintaining reliable infrastructure to support livable communities. This project will be housed in the Long-Range Planning (LRP) Division. Part of LRP’s work program is to provide support to employers implementing commute options programs, commuters, and residents. This work is accomplished under the partnership umbrella “Ride Together Pierce (RTP).” RTPs website is a valuable resource for information about the many services provided. Please access the website at www.RideTogetherPierce.com .

Pierce County wishes to offer a sustainable transportation education project along a portion of the State Route 7 (SR-7) Corridor. There is some exciting project-related work happening in this corridor, including:

• Parkland-Spanaway is a Blue Zones Project ® area. Blue Zones works with the Parkland-Spanaway community to create a healthier place to live, learn, work, play, and worship. When the entire community participates—from worksites and schools to restaurants and grocery stores—small changes contribute to huge benefits for all: lowered healthcare costs, improved productivity, and ultimately, a higher quality of life.
• Pierce County is scheduled to start design of safety and active transportation improvements along ‘C’ Street South and Tule Lake Road South in 2025, which will connect the Garfield Business District to the Parkland Trail. Blue Zones is working with Pierce County to define an interim, pilot project on these roads that can be implemented by 2026, before the ultimate permanent project can be completed.
• Pierce Transit launched their Stream Community Line along SR-7 which provides service between Spanaway and Tacoma. With 14 stops, buses run every 20 minutes during peak commute times, on weekdays mornings and afternoon. Stream is in addition to Pierce Transit Route 1, that also runs along SR-7, providing local service with more stop locations.
• Major destinations include Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and Sprinker Recreation Center. PLU is a major employer with approximately 730 employees and 2,700 students. Sprinker Recreation Center has ball fields, an ice-skating rink, and a community space.
• The first phase of construction for the Parkland Community Trail , from Sprinker Recreation Center to Tule Lake Road, ban fall 2025. It is anticipated to be substantially complete by late 2026. The new trail will provide a fully accessible path for non-motorized users connecting Sprinker Recreation Center to Pacific Lutheran University.
• SR 7/Pacific Highway Crossing and Signalization project replaces existing rapid flashing beacons with overhead pedestrian signals at 11 locations along State Route 7 in the Pierce County communities of Parkland and Spanaway. Some locations will have improved pedestrian ramps, extensions to the median islands, turn restrictions, and additional pavement markings.

Funding for the work may be from County, State, or Federal sources or a combination of such sources. All work in which Federal Funds are involved must comply with all current Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) requirements, including those in the WSDOT Local Agency Guidelines (LAG Manual).

The County has received funding for this project, and it is administered by WSDOT Local Programs, therefore, the successful firm will negotiate towards a Local Agency Consultant Agreement for these services and will follow all the guidelines listed in Chapter 31 – Using Consultants in the WSDOT Local Agency Guidelines manual. A copy of this manual can be found at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov./LocalPrograms/LAG/.