Sound Transit taps HDR for Tacoma Link expansion, names Carter chief of staff

Sound Transit's board yesterday selected HDR Engineering Inc. to provide final design services for the 2.4-mile Tacoma Link Expansion and an expanded maintenance facility.

The extension will connect the Stadium and Hilltop districts in Tacoma, Wash., to an existing 1.6-mile line that operates between the city's Theater District and the Tacoma Dome arena. The project calls for building six new stations and relocating the current Theater District station.

Tacoma's Union Station
Photo: Sound Transit

In addition, the project includes an expansion of the operations and maintenance facility in Tacoma.

"This is exciting news for Tacoma's residents, businesses and community organizations," said Sound Transit Vice Chair and Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland in a press release. "Moving forward with final design means we are on track to start construction in 2018 as planned."

In 2008, voters approved a funding plan to expand Tacoma Link. The project is funded in part by tax revenue from the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure and city of Tacoma contributions, as well as a $75 million Small Starts grant from the Federal Transit Administration.

Tacoma and Sound Transit have secured $33 million in federal and state grants for the expansion — including a $15 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recover (TIGER) grant — and are identifying an additional $7 million to complete the city's $40 million contribution to the project, agency officials said.

The current 1.6-mile Tacoma Link line serves six stations between the Theater District and Tacoma Dome and provides nearly 1 million rides a year.

Meanwhile, Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Peter Rogoff yesterday announced Rhonda Carter has been hired as the agency's new chief of staff.

Currently deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Carter is a native of Federal Way, Wash., and earlier served as a White House liaison for the U.S. Department of Energy and special assistant to the White House counsel.

She previously worked at the Center for American Progress and the University of Washington. She'll begin her new job at Sound Transit in mid-August.

"Sound Transit will be hugely fortunate to benefit from Rhonda's extensive experience in managing large, complex public organizations as we continue our track record of successfully completing major capital projects," Rogoff said in a press release. "Rhonda's deep roots in the Puget Sound region will serve us all well as we maintain and expand high quality service to the public."