The City of Tacoma is partnering with Crown Castle, the nation’s largest provider of shared communications infrastructure, to pilot an innovative way of installing fiber. Using a small crew to simultaneously cut, place, and seal underground fiber, this process will allow installation without shutting down traffic, and is thought to be safer, faster, and less environmentally impactful than traditional methods of trenching in the right-of-way with easier repairs. Additionally, this fiber utility is 811 registered, so the utility can easily remove the fiber upon notification. This pilot project will be completed in two locations, in the vicinity of North 7th Street and Cushman Avenue, as well as North Carr Street and Tacoma Avenue.
“Tacoma is committed to exploring every innovative option to bring our residents faster, safer, and more sustainable internet service,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “I’m excited about this new fiber installation technology, which allows for quicker deployment with less impact on our public roads. By supporting this pilot, we are positioning our city at the forefront of connectivity and ensuring our community can benefit from the tools that drive opportunity, innovation, and economic growth.”
The City will monitor and evaluate these locations to better understand the feasibility of future projects. If you have any questions about this project, please reach out to Corey Newton at (253) 591-5765 or cnewton@tacoma.gov.