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Pierce Transit presents long‑range plan options; Lakewood could gain more frequent north–south and corridor service under higher‑funding scenarios
Summary
Pierce Transit planning director outlined three long‑range scenarios tied to different sales tax levels; under higher funding the agency would expand frequency on key Lakewood corridors and pursue bus rapid transit planning when funding allows.
Ryan Wheaton, chief planning officer at Pierce Transit, briefed the Lakewood City Council on July 21 on the agency’s long‑range plan to 2045. Pierce Transit presented three funding scenarios tied to different local sales tax shares and associated service levels: a baseline (current funding, modest increases), a mid‑level (0.9% sales tax scenario) and a higher‑funding (1.1%) scenario.
Wheaton told council the plan is grounded in fiscal sustainability after public feedback asking for realistic, fundable options. The baseline scenario would raise service hours modestly (about 10,000 hours to ~480,000 hours) and boost frequency on core lines; Lakewood benefits in the baseline mainly by upgrades to Route 3 to a 15‑minute frequency in the primary weekday period. Under the mid and high scenarios the agency could increase north–south connectivity through a new route linking Lakewood Town Center and downtown Tacoma, raise frequencies on Route 2 (to 15‑minute frequency weekdays) and improve service on routes that serve Madigan/Tacoma General Hospital.
Wheaton said bus rapid transit (BRT) remains a long‑term objective but the agency will not commit corridors before identifying funding; any BRT work would proceed only after securing grant or local revenue to match capital and operating costs. He noted past BRT efforts were scaled back because of cost and timeline concerns and that Pierce Transit aims to show fiscally realistic projects to voters and partners.
Wheaton also described Pierce Transit outreach for the plan: 65 community engagement events, 700 online comments and follow‑up comment opportunities through the agency website. He said the agency’s board expect to vote on the plan in August and to return to municipal partners afterward to coordinate implementation.
Council members asked about routing and reliability; several raised concerns about I‑5 backups affecting timetable reliability and asked for better notification when service is disrupted. Wheaton said staff will review notification options and continue local coordination with Lakewood planning and public works when the board finalizes priorities.
