Port of Tacoma, developers and regional groups push freight, deepening and skills center to support Frederickson industrial growth

Eric Johnson, executive director of the Port of Tacoma, told the Pierce County Council on Aug. 19 that the port and private developers see finishing freight links such as the Canyon Road extension and continued work on SR 167 as essential to keeping goods moving and supporting jobs in Frederickson and the Tide Flats. "Extending Canyon Road is just one part of the capacity to support that supply chain," Johnson said.

The port and regional partners argued the supply chain depends on multimodal connections — roads, rail and navigation — and that specific projects are under way or planned. Johnson described a planned deepening and widening of the Blair Waterway from 51 feet to 57 feet to accommodate larger vessels, saying much of the dredged material will be clean and would be reused to create the Echo habitat project off Marine View Drive.

Why it matters: County and private speakers said industrial development supports thousands of jobs and significant local tax revenue, and they urged maintaining and finishing transportation projects so freight is not delayed on public streets.

Port data presented to the council show the gateway supports tens of thousands of jobs and billions in economic output. "We have over 41,000 total jobs that we create in this area," Johnson said, citing a recent economic-impact study; he also described the port’s long-term support for the Puget Sound Gateway program and the Port of Tacoma’s contribution of roughly $30 million toward SR 167 improvements.

Ryan Spence, program director of the Manufacturing Industrial Council for Tacoma and Pierce County, said improving freight flow can reduce truck traffic on neighborhood streets. "When freight moves more freely, it frees up our residential and neighborhood corridors and makes all of our lives work a little bit better," Spence said.

Private developers described recent investment and how warehouses feed local employment. Dennis Rice of Logistics Property Company said his firm developed about 3.1 million square feet in Frederickson across six buildings, noting construction costs of about $450 million and a present value near $750 million. Rice said the project generates roughly $3.6 million a year in property tax and that the park supports about 2,000 jobs.

Justin Carlucci of Bridge Industrial emphasized that industrial buildings provide versatile employment opportunities and broader economic benefits to residents. Carlucci said construction and sales of large industrial properties also produce substantial excise and sales tax revenue during development.

Council context and next steps: Port and industry speakers urged completion of regional projects already in planning or under construction, including SR 167 extensions and interchange work near Fife, and called for coordinated investment in rail, road and navigation infrastructure. Johnson and others said the port is also investing in workforce development; the new Tacoma maritime skills center — a state-recognized skills center that the Port is building with the Tacoma School District — will offer maritime training to students countywide.

The council did not vote on new funding in this meeting; presenters urged policymakers to continue coordinating funding and permitting across jurisdictions to protect existing industrial land and access the economic benefits tied to maritime and distribution activity.