FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 28,2014

MEDIA CONTACTS

Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org,(253) 591-5160
Carrie McCausland, Media and Communications Office, cmccausland@cityoftacoma.org,(253) 591-2005

Last week an achievement seven years in the making came to fruition as the BNSF Railway donated a 20-foot wide strip of property between downtown Tacoma’s South 15th and South 26th streets to the City of Tacoma for the Prairie Line Trail. The agreement also included:

• 80-foot wide sections of property between South 23rd and South 25th streets,
• 80-foot wide sections of property at street intersections,
• The City acting to permanently close the A, East 22nd and Dock street crossings, and
• Authorization to expand the existing South 15th Street pedestrian bridge and build a second pedestrian overpass someday. 

“ This is great news for the City of Tacoma,” said City Councilmember Thoms “Since joining the council I have sought to secure this deed. Now that we have it we’re a huge step closer to bringing the Prairie Line Trail to our community. This trail will honor Tacoma’s history, support economic development and provide incredible public spaces to connect people to some of downtown’s most compelling places.”

The University of Washington Tacoma will open the trail segment running through campus in a few weeks and the City will construct the Pacific Avenue to Foss Waterfront segment by summer of 2015. City staff will pursue funding to allow future construction of the last third of the envisioned trail, through the Brewery District and connecting to the future Water Ditch Trail.

For more information click here: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=6638

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