Tacoma City Council approved a purchase resolution this week that will bring much needed pedestrian street improvements to an area near South Ninth Street and the LINK light rail station on Commerce Street in downtown’s Theater District.

The action taken Tuesday directs $570,628.30 from the Streets Special Revenue Fund and the 2010 Limited Tax General Obligation Bond D Fund to Wm. Dickson Co. of Tacoma to construct new ramps to comply with the American Disabilities Act, create new crosswalks and bulbouts, and resurface the street.

According to Richard E. McKinley, Tacoma’s director of public works, the Federal Highway Administration awarded a grant to the city to fund the project.

Three companies bid on the project: Wm. Dickson Co. of Tacoma; R. L. Alia Company of Renton; and Ceccanti, Inc. of Tacoma.

Construction is scheduled to begin in two weeks and finish in November. City staff held public meetings in May, June, and July to discuss the project with area residents and business owners who might be impacted by the work.