Should Tacoma remove I-705? (Seattle, Everett: cost of, moving, light rail)

[DevanXL]

With Seattle having removed the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and freeway caps coming into the region, is it time for Tacoma to consider removing the I-705? The freeway seems to seriously disconnect the city from the waterfront, and with new developments going onto the Foss Waterway it seems restrictive to future growth in the Downtown core.

[grega94]

I-705 probably can be converted into a boulevard, but the rail yard is still going to disconnect downtown from the water front

[BjorntheCold]

Originally Posted by grega94

I-705 probably can be converted into a boulevard, but the rail yard is still going to disconnect downtown from the water front

It's more like the railroad is the waterfront. And considering the cost of relocating BNSF/UP under or around Tacoma would likely run into the billions in terms of property acquisition, grading and tunneling, I think we can safely say this notion is DOA.

[Diana Holbrook]

705 is the only thing that makes it possible to get into or out of downtown Tacoma.

[pnwguy2]

705 is one of the shortest Interstates in the us. I believe the original plan was to extend it north and merging with state 509 as an alternative to I-5. That never happened and probably won’t ever.

I can’t find any real good info on this, but I believe all federally funded road projects must need federal approval to be removed. Though I am not completely certain on this. Perhaps someone is more knowledgeable about this.

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

705 is the only thing that makes it possible to get into or out of downtown Tacoma.

I’m referencing I-705N after you get to the spur heading towards Stadium. Not the freeway entrances south of 509. So removing a section of I-705 not the entire stretch.

[jabogitlu]

I'd much rather see our transportation dollars go to work ensuring the LINK light rail connections to Tacoma and Everett happen as planned. As for the waterfront itself, the northern part is on a serious grade that will likely never allow for alternative development. The southern part is also heavily bisected by a railway. Tacoma also has major vacant tracts of land around the UW-Tacoma campus and up the hillside that I would prefer to see developed.

Tl;dr- Tacoma doesn't have the land constraints that Seattle does. We should prioritize public transit investment.

[grega94]

I think a cheaper and better option would be to cap a small section of the I-705 and the railroad similar to the freeway park in Seattle or even NE 36th st over 520 in Redmond. The optimal place to do it is probably between 509 and E 15th st, where the Chihuly bridge of glass currently stands. That or build more pedestrian bridges/pathways/staircases to the waterfront. But at this point Ruston has the best waterfront in Pierce county.