Mayor Anders Ibsen and At-Large Council Member Kristina Walker are calling on Tacoma and Pierce County residents to make their voices heard by participating in Sound Transit’s public survey and encouraging friends, family, and neighbors to do the same.
“As Sound Transit works through serious financial challenges, our community has an opportunity to weigh in on decisions that will greatly impact transit in Tacoma for decades to come,” said Council Member Walker, who also serves on the Sound Transit Board. “So many people in our community rely on the Link light rail, Sounder trains, and the ST Express buses, and I know many more are eager to see Sound Transit make the Tacoma Dome Link Extension a reality. The Tacoma Dome Link Extension is not just a transit project. It is a promise to our community and to the South Sound. Let’s make sure that our voices are heard loud and clear in this survey so that Tacoma gets its fair share and that Sound Transit finishes the spine to connect our region.”
The Tacoma Dome Link Extension is a critical piece of the Puget Sound region’s long-term transit vision, connecting Tacoma and Pierce County residents to jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity throughout. The project has already been delayed five years, from 2030 to 2035, and further delays would disproportionately impact South Sound communities that have waited decades for this investment.
Tacoma and the broader South Sound are home to nearly one million residents and serve as a major economic engine for Washington state. The region supports a strong industrial base, a thriving port economy, and thousands of workers who depend on better transportation options as congestion on Interstate 5 continues to worsen.
The Tacoma Dome Station is planned as the South Sound’s primary multimodal hub, linking regional light rail with local transit connections, including the T Line. The City of Tacoma has already taken significant steps to prepare for this investment, including rezoning and supporting transit-oriented development around the station area.
“This is an equity issue,” said Mayor Ibsen. “Tacoma and Pierce County residents have contributed to Sound Transit and deserve the same access to reliable, high-capacity transit as communities to the north. Tacoma and the South Sound should not bear the burden of delays while other parts of the system move forward. We need every resident who cares about mobility, affordability, climate, and economic opportunity to take the survey and make their voice heard.”
Residents are urged to:
- Complete the Sound Transit survey.
- Talk to friends, family, and coworkers about the importance of speaking up regarding the Tacoma Dome Link Extension and how crucial it is for Sound Transit to keep its commitments to Pierce County.
- Share the survey with friends, family, and coworkers.
Residents can learn more about Sound Transit’s public engagement process on Sound Transit’s website.