City of Tacoma
S 56th Street Crossing Improvements
A St
TIB Award Amount
$673,421
Region: Puget Sound   |   Legislative District: 29   |   Length: 0.00 mi. FY 2026 Complete Streets Program (CSP)

Existing Conditions

A Street is designated as a future bicycle boulevard in Tacomas Transportation Master Plan and runs parallel to Pacific Avenue (SR-7), providing an alternative route for active transportation modes. Pacific Avenue is a high volume state highway with no bike facilities. S 56th St is another high-volume (10,000 ADT est. 2015) principal arterial that acts as a barrier to people walking and biking in the neighborhood on A St. The City of Tacomas Vision Zero safety plan identifies both arterials as part of the citys High Risk Network, which are streets with a concentration of severe crashes, indicating a need for safety improvements. The project is in a neighborhood that rates low on the City of Tacomas equity index with a 39% persons of color, 13% disabled, 12% poverty rate, and significant environmental health concerns from air pollution and heavy traffic. A safer, signalized crossing of S 56th St is essential to improving active transportation access to schools, parks, and transit stops.

Project Funding

  TIB Funds Local Funds Total Costs
Design 47,760 11,940 59,700
Right of Way 0 0 0
Construction 625,661 156,416 782,077
Project Totals $673,421 $168,356 $841,777

Local Match

TIB Participation Local Match Minimum Local Match
80.0% 20.0% 20%

Summary of Improvements

  • The Tacoma community needs a safe, low traffic stress alternative to Pacific Avenue that A Street provides for N-S bicycle and pedestrian travel. A strong local need also exists for safe crosswalks to provide direct connections to Fawcett Elementary School, Concordia Lutheran School, Stewart Heights Park, La Huerta International Market and Route 41 bus stops on each side of S 56th St near the intersection. The proposed traffic diverter median will force vehicles on A Street to turn right at S 56th St, preventing cut-through traffic, reducing A Street traffic, and reducing the risk of traffic conflicts with pedestrians and cyclists crossing the street. The proposed pedestrian hybrid beacon signal will require traffic on S/E 56th St to come to a complete stop when activated by APS pedestrian push button or the installed bike detection system. Pavement markings including high visibility crosswalks will alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians and reduce drivers blocking the crossings. Future projects will complete the A Street bicycle boulevard with additional signage, pavement markings and ADA sidewalk accessibility improvements. In the interim, the crossing improvement will have an immediate impact on traffic safety and connectivity.

Description of Improvements

This project will reconstruct the intersection of A Street and S 56th Street, the project will include high visibility crosswalks, a pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB) signal system, a traffic diverter median, and ADA curb ramps.