The City of Tacoma continues to explore options for providing additional parking at the Tacoma Dome, according to a report released by City Hall last week.

In December, Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Washington State Department of Commerce granted authority to issue $9.4 million in recovery zone and small-issue private activity bonds to construct a new parking garage at the Tacoma Dome. The city has until Nov. 10, 2013 to spend the bond money.

According to Tacoma Public Works Director Richard McKinley, the city plans to increase the parking volume on the ‘G’ lot adjacent to Wiley Avenue. However, what the additional parking facility will look like still needs to be determined.

“A modular parking structure was initially identified,” wrote McKinley in a May 11 memo to City Manager Eric Anderson. “This type of structure is demountable and can be relocated to other sites. It also can be constructed quickly and may be a cost effective solution for additional parking. However, in developing the performance specification for the modular parking system, challenges arose from the city’s seismic zone, which reduced the cost effectiveness of the system.”

McKinley added that Public Works staff are working on a plan “to best ensure that an innovative and creative solution is provided” and will “allow for modular parking structure types . . . as well as other reusable structures.”

The design-build plan will be split into two phases: a competitive Request for Qualifications that will be evaluated by a city committee; and a Request for Proposal to the finalists selected by the committee. A contractor is expected to be selected by August 2011.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – –

$9.4M recovery bonds slated for new Tacoma Dome parking garage – http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1887540&more=0