Tacoma City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on a resolution that will further a plan to build a LINK light rail station near South 11th and Commerce Streets.

If approved, the resolution would direct City Manager Eric Anderson to collaborate with Sound Transit to finalize a proposal and seek approval from the Sound Transit Board, and to move forward to secure funds for the project once the design is completed and approved. The Sound Transit Board is scheduled to discuss the plan during its meeting Sept. 23.

According to Public Works traffic engineer Kurtis Kingsolver, design plans for the $350,000 project — which includes 40-foot-long, seven-feet wide platforms, security cameras, and shelter for waiting passengers — are 60 per cent complete. Costs related to construction and maintenance are funded through Limited Tax General Obligation bonds. If the City and Sound Transit agree on the plan, the design for the project will be completed in early-October, bid documents will be completed in late-October, and advertisements for bids will be posted in November. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2011 and be completed in March 2011.

Currently, there are no stops between South Ninth Street and South 15th Street. Adding a new stop, however, will increase the amount of time it takes for Link to travel between Tacoma Dome Station and Theater District Station from 10 minutes to 12 minutes.

Several downtown stakeholders, including the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce and DaVita, have pushed for a long time for the City and Sound Transit to add another station along the 1.6-mile line.

The resolution is scheduled to be introduced during Tacoma City Council’s meeting Tues., Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. at the Tacoma Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 747 Market St. For a copy of the agenda, visit http://www.cms.cityoftacoma.org/cityclerk/Files/CityCouncil/Agendas/2010-FullAgendas/Full20100914.pdf .

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For earlier Index coverage, click on the following links:

Plan adds new downtown Link light rail stop by next spring (08/31/10) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1830911&more=0

City Hall presentation Tuesday on new downtown Tacoma Link light rail stop (08/30/10) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1829842&more=0

City envisions Link light rail station near 11th Street (01/08/10) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1694358&more=0