Blair-Hylebos Peninsula Terminal Redevelopment: Road/Rail/Infrastructure Improvements

The Port of Tacoma (Port) owns substantial land on the East Blair peninsula, which includes approximately 114 parcels encompassing approximately 548 acres of land. In 2007 the Port undertook the Blair Hylebos Peninsula Terminal Redevelopment Project (BHPTRP). This project would have incorporated conversion of existing industrial properties to container, automotive and trailer handling and support facilities. As part of this redevelopment, the Port would construct a new container terminal (EB2) and relocate an existing tenant terminal (TOTE), which would require modifications to the existing roadway and rail systems. In addition, the Port was pursuing a tenant for a potential EB1 Terminal at the southerly end of the peninsula. The Road/Rail/Infrastructure Project (R/R/I) was to design the expansion of rail corridors and subsequent realignment and extension of existing roadways, and utility infrastructure systems of the BHPTRP. Some of the necessary modifications included, but were not limited to: (1) Providing intermodal rail facilities to service two future terminals at EB1 and EB2. (2) Relocating and widening Taylor Way to accommodate roadway capacity and rail improvements (3) Providing roadway access to peninsula tenants, terminals, land owners and emergency service vehicles. (4) Relocating up to three electrical transmission substations (5) Redeveloping rail infrastructure on the East Blair Peninsula. (6) Reconfiguration of sanitary sewer, water distribution, electrical transmission and distribution, telecommunications, fiber optics, storm drainage and natural gas utility systems to accommodate the large redevelopment efforts. (7) Resolving infrastructure ownership and coordinating with State and City governments to gain concurrence on design concepts. Addressing environmental conditions on former industrial properties as they pertain to design. This paper will give an overall view of the roadway, utility and rail improvements necessary for this redevelopment project and its progress to date.