Tacoma City Council Study Session - Pierce Transit Long Range Plan Update - July 22, 2025

On July 22, 2025, the Tacoma City Council held a study session to receive an update on the second draft of Pierce Transit's Long Range Plan. Brittany Carbullido and Andrew Arnes from Pierce Transit presented the plan, which outlines service scenarios based on current and potential future sales tax revenue. Council members asked questions about funding, service coverage, coordination with jurisdictions, and the potential for a future ballot measure.

Presentation Overview

• Pierce Transit conducted extensive outreach, including 27 group events, coordination with jurisdictions, and a survey that received 700 responses. Key community priorities included more frequent service, new routes, extended hours, and better connections.
• The second draft prioritizes service hours over large capital projects like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to address public demand for more frequent and reliable service.
• Current service hours are about 470,000, with only 10,000 hours available under the current 0.6% sales tax rate. The plan presents three scenarios:
  • Baseline (0.6% sales tax): Modest improvements, including increased frequency on Routes 1 and 3, and adjustments to connect with future Link light rail stations.
  • Scenario A (0.9% sales tax, requires voter approval): Up to 600,000 service hours (24% increase), with many routes operating at 30-minute frequency or better, extended evening hours, and efficiency adjustments.
  • Scenario B (1.1% sales tax, requires RCW change and voter approval): Further increases to high-capacity service on key routes, four new conceptual routes in Puyallup, Port of Tacoma, East/Central Tacoma, and North Tacoma.
• The board is not selecting a scenario at adoption on August 11, 2025; the plan will include all scenarios to inform future ballot measure discussions, which may begin in early 2025.

Discussion Items

• Councilmember Bushnell asked about ballot measure implementation and whether different jurisdictions could opt for different tax levels. Pierce Transit responded that a sales tax increase must be uniform across the service area, but other funding agreements might be possible. She also inquired about future BRT potential, noting studies on Routes 1, 2, 3, and 402, but acknowledged SR7 improvements are complex and require partnerships with WSDOT and Pierce County.
• Councilmember Rumba raised concerns about Northeast Tacoma, which lacks service and voted against a previous measure. She stressed the need for a connection to King County/Federal Way light rail to gain support from the 18,000 residents in that area.
• Councilmember Sidalgay questioned how Pierce Transit plans for potential new riders who are not current users. Presenters noted they are exploring demand technology and use a transit propensity index, but acknowledged the long-range plan does not heavily adjust existing routes. He emphasized the need to better communicate benefits to voters to secure a tax increase.
• Councilmember Scott observed that a 50% sales tax increase (to 0.9%) yields only a 24% service hour increase. Pierce Transit explained that a portion of new revenue must address a projected deficit due to rising costs outpacing sales tax revenue.
• Councilmember Hines asked about coordination with public works agencies on infrastructure improvements. Presenters confirmed close coordination with jurisdiction planning departments, noting Tacoma's transportation plan includes bus lane priorities, and that partnerships are key to implementing improvements.
• Mayor Woodards asked about the timeline for board decisions on a ballot measure. Councilmember Hines noted the board will discuss timing and will engage with all affected jurisdictions.

Key Outcomes

• No formal council action was taken; the meeting was informational.
• Pierce Transit's board is scheduled to adopt the long range plan on August 11, 2025, without selecting a specific scenario.
• Board discussions on a potential ballot measure for a sales tax increase (from 0.6% to 0.9% or higher) may begin in early 2025, pending further outreach and coordination.
• The council and Pierce Transit committed to continued collaboration on funding, service design, and infrastructure partnerships.