More Than the Tailpipe: Climate Resilience & Mobility

As extreme weather events become more common in the South Sound, we’re faced with a serious question: How do we build a climate resilient Tacoma? Register below and join us for a panel exploring the intersections of community, mobility, and climate.

This free Friday Forum panel event was held on March 24th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in person at Metro Parks Tacoma HQ (4702 S 19th St. Tacoma, WA 98405) and virtually over Zoom. It featured panelists Chrissy Cooley (Puget Sound Clean Air Agency), Evlondo Cooper (Sustainable Tacoma Commission), and iLeana Areiza (Tacoma Climate Leadership Cohort). Moderated by Tanisha Jumper (Tacoma Public Schools).

Registration is now closed, but you can view a recording of the forum below!

Downtown On the Go’s annual Friday Forum series is a space to discuss transportation issues and opportunities in Tacoma, to recognize real challenges facing downtown commuters and residents, and to learn about new ideas in the transportation world. The 2023 forums invite Tacomans to imagine what the future of Tacoma could be, as we dive into the rising community concerns of housing, traffic violence, and climate resilience.

Thank you to our partners Metro Parks Tacoma and Pierce Transit for supporting the 2023 Friday Forum series by making a hybrid format possible. The series is sponsored by Parametrix.

Find more information on the 2023 forum series and past forums here.

When a Sidewalk Isn’t Enough: Vision Zero in Tacoma & Pierce County

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic deaths have been on a steady rise. The City of Tacoma is committed to reaching a Vision Zero goal of zero traffic deaths or serious injuries by 2035, but what does that really mean? Join us for a panel breaking down the causes of traffic violence, how institutions are working to stop it, and the real human impacts. 

This free Friday Forum panel event was held on February 24th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in person at Metro Parks Tacoma HQ (4702 S 19th St. Tacoma, WA 98405) and virtually over Zoom. It featured panelists Dr. Anthony Chen (Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department), Carrie Wilhelme (City of Tacoma), and Noah Struthers, (2nd Cycle Community Bicycle Shop). The forum was moderated by Tanisha Jumper (Tacoma Public Schools).

Downtown On the Go’s annual Friday Forum series is a space to discuss transportation issues and opportunities in Tacoma, to recognize real challenges facing downtown commuters and residents, and to learn about new ideas in the transportation world. The 2023 forums invite Tacomans to imagine what the future of Tacoma could be, as we dive into the rising community concerns of housing, traffic violence, and climate resilience.

Thank you to our partners Metro Parks Tacoma and Pierce Transit for supporting the 2023 Friday Forum series by making a hybrid format possible. The series is sponsored by Parametrix.

Find more information on the 2023 forum series and past forums here.

Who Are We Building For?: Housing & Access in Tacoma

As Tacoma grows and changes, what would you like to see in the City of Destiny? Housing and transportation are deeply interconnected and our policies on both influence who can access opportunities and services. Join us for a panel exploring how Tacomans’ needs and wants both match up and differ as we dive into what a future Tacoma could look like. This free Friday Forum panel event was held on January 27th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in person at Metro Parks Tacoma HQ (4702 S 19th St. Tacoma, WA 98405) and virtually over Zoom. It featured panelists Jason Gauthier (South Sound Housing Affordability Partners), Brendan Nelson (Empowering People in Communities), and Tyler Garretson, (Mayor’s Youth Commission of Tacoma). Moderated by Tanisha Jumper (Tacoma Public Schools). 

This Friday forum has passed and registration has closed, but a recording of the forum is available here:

Downtown On the Go’s annual Friday Forum series is a space to discuss transportation issues and opportunities in Tacoma, to recognize real challenges facing downtown commuters and residents, and to learn about new ideas in the transportation world. The 2023 forums invite Tacomans to imagine what the future of Tacoma could be, as we dive into the rising community concerns of housing, traffic violence, and climate resilience.

Thank you to our partners Metro Parks Tacoma and Pierce Transit for supporting the 2023 Friday Forum series by making a hybrid format possible. The series is sponsored by Parametrix.

Find more information on the 2023 forum series and past forums here.

It’s budget season at the City of Tacoma, and City Council needs to hear from YOU about why funding walking, rolling, and biking is critical. The active transportation budget in the draft biennial budget is small, and does not include dedicated funds for bike lanes, ADA accessible curb cuts, or sufficient funds for missing sidewalks. Properly funding active transportation is imperative to address safe mobility, equitable access for all, and the climate crisis. Join other advocates to speak up and make your voice heard!

November 15th, 2022 City Council meeting – biennial budget public hearing. 
Meet in the lobby outside of Council Chambers (747 Market St, 1st floor) at 4:30, then we will sit in the back of the chambers together at 5pm. Bring a friend and make some new ones! Plan to have 90 seconds to speak. Write out your comments (or main points) ahead of time and be sure to practice to ensure you’re within the 90 second time limit. Optional RSVP on Facebook. For help writing your comments, check out our advocacy page or contact our Advocacy Manager Laura directly at LauraS@downtownonthego.org

To testify over Zoom, use this information and raise your hand for the budget public hearing (not regular public comment!): www.zoom.us/j/84834233126 Passcode: 349099
To testify over the phone, use this information and press *9 to raise your hand for the budget public hearing: 253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 848 3423 3126
If you’re busy during the meeting time, you can email your councilmembers directly. Contact information here.

Why is active transportation funding important?

• Vision Zero! In 2020, Tacoma City Council committed to a goal of zero traffic deaths or serious injuries by 2035. To meet this ambitious goal, we need to transform the way we think about traffic violence, how we prioritize funding, and how we design our streets. Funding active transportation is necessary to create better, safer, more accessible infrastructure for those walking, rolling, and biking.
• Climate! In 2021, Tacoma City Council committed to the Climate Action Plan and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan calls for completing our sidewalk network by 2050, supporting high frequency and high capacity transit projects, hosting active transportation events, updating design standards to prioritize bicyclists and pedestrians, and more. We can’t reach our climate goals without reducing how much people drive, so we need to build a Tacoma where it is safe, convenient, and accessible to walk, bike, and use transit.  A lot of that work happens in active transportation; to reach these goals, we need a fully funded and staffed department.
• Fight traffic violence! Traffic deaths and serious injuries are increasing across the country, and we’re seeing that trend reflected here in Pierce County. To reverse this, we need to design roadways where cars slow down and bicyclists & pedestrians have connected and protected facilities like protected bike lanes, wide side walks, and intersections that prioritize the safety of people over the speed of cars.
• Safe mobility for all! We know that low income, BIPOC, and disabled individuals are more likely to rely on active transportation and transit, face transportation overburden and insecurity, be impacted more by traffic violence, and be displaced away from services into neighborhoods with insufficient infrastructure and connectivity. Better infrastructure makes everyone safer and investing in historically underserved communities and neighborhoods helps to right historic inequities.
• And more! Storytelling and personal experience is the core of good public testimony. Talk about what’s most important to you and your communities.