Claudia Riedener's letter to the Editor: Trib

TACOMA: Sound Transit’s plan is the wrong one
CLAUDIA RIEDENER; Tacoma
Published: 08/05/09 12:05 am
Sound Transit wants to run an earthen berm through the middle of the Dome District. It is 10 years behind schedule and now needs to move along with what it designed.
It seems to me that hurry is a bad reason to build something that is supposed to be in place for 50 to 100 years or more. The Dome District is our most viable neighborhood for future density. All major transportation hubs are right here, and it is within walking distance of many downtown attractions.
Cutting the district in half with a berm that will be a weedy mess surrounded by chain- link fence is unconscionable. No other neighborhood would allow that. We are losing commercially viable space and parking necessary for Dome events.
We are losing future development in the area because if will not be financially viable to build next to the berm and have to shore up massive amounts of soil. Earthquakes are another issue; we know what happens when we build on fill.
The movement of thousand of people during Dome and LeMay Museum events will cause safety issues with folks trying to cross the tracks. Tacoma’s own comprehensive plan calls for wildlife corridors in this area; Sound Transit’s current plan is in direct opposition to that.
Tacoma deserves a smart transportation solution that is fit for an urban area. Let’s demand smart, forward-looking planning with livability of our communities at heart. Let’s build post and beam.

Link to Claudia's letter in the TNT http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters/story/834265.html?storylink=pd

Other Letters to the Editors:
Bliss Moore TNT 8/1/09 http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters/story/830566.html

Lynn Di Nino TNT 7/29/09 http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters/story/826830.html?storylink=pd
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