The City of Tacoma is poised to receive a $3 million grant from the Washington State Public Works Board to fund the Pacific Avenue streetscape project.

According to documents prepared by City staff, the grant would complete funding and allow the project to be advertised for construction. The grant must be accepted and a signed contract readiness survey returned to the Washington State Public Works Board by June 15. Tacoma City Council is scheduled next month to vote on a resolution to accept the grant.

The Pacific Avenue streetscape project aims to improve Pacific Avenue between South 7th Street and South 17th Street by incorporating innovative stormwater management design, complete streets concepts, multimodal transportation and wayfinding. The new streetscape will also be designed to attract and encourage new business in downtown Tacoma. The project also aims to complement the existing streetscape along Pacific Avenue between 17th and 21st Streets, including the upcoming streetscape and plaza/entrance improvements currently under design for the Tacoma Art Museum.

Funding for the project comes from a variety of sources, including $1.5 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; $1.5 million from the City of Tacoma’s Surface Water Fund; $978,300 from the U.S. Department of Transportation; $799,863 from the U. S. Federal Highway Administration; and $175,000 in real estate excise taxes.

More information about the project is online at http://www.cityoftacoma.org/pacave .

Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution to accept the grant funding during its meeting on Tues., June 12 at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers on the first floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, located 747 Market Street. More information is online at http://cms.cityoftacoma.org/cityclerk/Files/CityCouncil/Pendings/2012/Pd20120612.pdf . Meetings are streamed live online at http://www.tvtacoma.com and broadcast live on TV Tacoma.

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Pacific Avenue streetscape wayfinding open house Nov. 9 (11/03/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2063696&more=0

Pacific Avenue streetscape project meeting Oct. 20 (10/10/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2049898&more=0

Tacoma to receive nearly $1M for Pacific Avenue streetscape project (08/16/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2022627&more=0

Pac Ave streetscape open house May 9 (05/09/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1971883&more=0

Public meeting Dec. 9 for Pac Ave streetscape project (12/03/10) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1886754&more=0