Portland Avenue

The Tacoma Segment includes the area from the Fife/Tacoma city limit across the Puyallup River to the existing Tacoma Dome Station, through reservation and trust lands of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. The Portland Avenue Station area would be within the reservation.

The following station area information focuses on the Portland Avenue . Sound Transit continues to study the Portland Avenue Span Station Option in the Final EIS.

Portland Avenue Station design

The Preferred Portland Avenue Station would be located at East 26th St and East Portland Ave. Sound Transit and the City of Tacoma are collaborating to design a station that will support the Tacoma community, particularly southeast Tacoma and Puyallup Tribal enterprises. Our station plans propose several changes to the area directly within and around the station including:

Sidewalks and to ensure people of all ages and abilities can walk, bike, or roll within the station area.
Bus stops located near station entrances.
Landscaping and trees lining all streets adjacent to the station to provide shade and separation between different travel modes.

Explore the early concepts for the Preferred Portland Avenue Station

A quarter-mile radius is labeled, indicating a 5-minute walking distance to and from the station. The station sits just north of Interstate 5 between East Portland Avenue and East Bay Street, near the La Quinta Inn and Suites. Existing and planned pedestrian and bike facilities are shown, connecting the station to Downtown Tacoma, the Salishan neighborhood, and the Port of Tacoma.

The Preferred Portland Avenue Station in the context of surrounding areas, including the Puyallup River to the northeast, I-5 to the south, and businesses to the north and south.

On the north side along East Bay Street is a station entrance and four bus bays. On the south side along East 27th Street is a second entrance, a paratransit bay, two accessible drop-off spaces, and 10 standard drop-off spaces. Highlighted routes show key pedestrian and bicycle connections north along East Portland Avenue and East 25th Street, through the station and south along East Portland Avenue and East Bay Street. The station is projected to serve 1,130 daily riders by 2042.

A closer view of the station, highlighting entrances and key station features like pedestrian-focused areas, bus and paratransit stops, and pick-up and drop-off zones.

Bike lockers and racks are located near the East 27th Street entrance. Buses enter from East Bay Street and exit via East 27th Street. A shared-use path connects to the station. A crosswalk at the north entrance links to the proposed shared-use paths along the north side of East Bay Street and the east side of Portland Avenue East, with segments to be built by Sound Transit and our partners.

Diagram of the station and travel routes for people walking, biking, rolling, driving, or taking transit.

Portland Avenue Station access planning

Sound Transit and the City of Tacoma are identifying improvements that will make it easier to travel to the Preferred Portland Avenue Station while walking, biking, rolling, or taking transit. The potential projects below are informed by previous feedback and the City of Tacoma’s plans to improve walkability and bike safety in the Portland Ave corridor. Please note that funding is limited, meaning there may not be the resources to build all potential station access projects below.

As you review these potential projects, consider whether they would make it easier to get to the station. Your feedback will help inform which projects are built and how they’re designed.

Learn about the potential Portland Avenue Station access projects

Map outlining all potential station access projects for the Preferred Portland Avenue Station. See details about each project in the text below.

Potential corridor projects

Puyallup Ave Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements: Street updates from South C St to Fife City limits, with improved or new crossings, pedestrian facilities, bicycle facilities, and bus facilities.
E 25th St Pedestrian Improvements: Complete sidewalk gaps and improve pedestrian travel on East 25th St from East Portland Ave to East J St.
East Q St Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements: Enhance pedestrian and bicycle connectivity on East Q St/East Bay St from East Portland Ave to East 26th St.
E Portland Ave Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements: Enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety and travel on East Portland Ave from Puyallup Ave to East 26th St.
East L Street and E 26th St Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements: Improve sidewalk condition and construction bicycle facilities on East L St from East 26th St to East 27th St. Complete sidewalk gaps and construct bicycle facilities on East 26th St from East Portland Ave to East L St.
E 26th St/E Bay St Shared-Use Path: New on the north side of East 26th St/East Bay St from East Portland Ave to Pioneer Way East.
E 27th St Pedestrian Improvements: Complete sidewalk gaps and enhance ADA accessibility on the north side of East 27th St from East L St to East Portland Ave.
Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements to McKinley Park: Enhance bicycle and pedestrian connectivity from the intersection of East 29th St and Upper Park St to the intersection of East 30th St and East R St. The route would include East 29th St, East L St, East 28th St, East N St, and East 30th St.
E 28th St Pedestrian Improvements: Complete sidewalk gaps and improve sidewalk condition on the south side of East 28th St from East N St to East Bay St.
East Station Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements: Pedestrian and bicycle enhancements from the intersections of East 27th St and East Bay St to East 30th St and East R St, to improve travel to the east side of the future station.
E 34th St/East N St Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements: New bicycle and pedestrian connection from the intersection of East 34th St and East L St to the intersection of East N St and East 30th St.
E Portland Ave Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements (East 27th St to East 40th St): Improvements on or adjacent to East Portland Ave from East 27th St to East 40th St, including new or improved crossings, pedestrian facilities, and bicycle facilities.
Salishan Greenway Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvements: Add signage and pavement markings to create a greenway bicycle connection on low volume residential streets from the intersection of East 30th St and East R St to the intersection of East T St and East 38th St, at the north end of the Salishan neighborhood.
E Portland Ave Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements (East 40th St to East 56th St): Improvements on or adjacent to East Portland Ave from East 40th St to East 56th St, including new or improved crossings, pedestrian facilities, and bicycle facilities.
Swan Creek Park Greenway Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvements: Add signage and pavement markings to create a greenway bicycle connection on East T St from East 38th St to Swan Creek Park.

Share feedback on your station area priorities by taking our online survey.