New Pierce Transit Facility Bolsters High-Capacity Service

Pierce Transit, Tacoma, WA, has opened its first new transit facility since Tacoma Dome Station in 1998. The Spanaway Transit Center will serve as the southern terminus for Route 1, the agency’s highest-ridership route, as well as Stream Community Line, Pierce Transit’s only high-capacity transit line.

At the Spanaway Transit Center, riders will be able to take a bus as far north as Tacoma, where they can connect at Tacoma Dome Station with other local bus routes, Sound Transit Express routes, the Sound Transit T Line through Tacoma, Sounder commuter rail, Amtrak trains, and eventually Sound Transit Link light rail.

The new facility includes parking for up to 38 cars, with parking for up to 250 cars in phase two, slated to begin construction in 2027. The center features covered shelters, lighting, benches, and dedicated departure and arrival locations for each route. It also includes two Chargepoint electric vehicle chargers available for public use.

The site features several green design initiatives, including green stormwater solutions that offer 100 percent infiltration of stormwater runoff. A new driver comfort facility includes a breakroom and toilets, and energy-efficient appliances such as low-flow fixtures and heat pumps for energy efficient heating and cooling.

In conjunction with the opening of the Spanaway Transit Center, Pierce Transit is making improvements to many of its bus routes as part of its twice-yearly schedule update process. Among those improvements, Route 206 will be altered to serve a new Amazon warehouse facility.