Getting Around

For anyone planning on leaving Tacoma to visit relatives living in Brampton condos or even just going across town to visit Point Defiance Park, a working knowledge of Tacoma's transportation system is a must. Very few people are able to manage by walking everywhere, and even then they still have to know the road layout so they don't get lost on the way to the store. To help you (the future inhabitant of Tacoma, Washington) get started learning the ways to get around, we've compiled this article on transport in the city.

Like many cities in the United States, Tacoma's transportation system was designed primarily for people getting around by automobile. While those who own Fishkill condos in New York may see little point in owning a car because of the extensive public transit system in that city, there are places in Tacoma you can only reach by car. The majority of the streets are gridded, which should allow for easy navigation, but because the numbered east-west running streets have two sets of numbers, a North set and a South set based on their distance from downtown, it can be confusing.

The north-south avenues are either lettered or named, so there is less confusion on that end. However, you can still end up wondering whether you're supposed to meet your friend at North 11th and Union or South 11th and Union. It's not enough to make you want to instead buy Vancouver real estate. Kitsilano isn't really that much different; but it is annoying. Major highways linking Tacoma to the rest of the world include Interstate 5, which runs to Seattle and Portland, and State Road 16, which goes to the Nalley Valley. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge connects Tacoma to points north.

Sound Transit runs commuter busses and light rail routes into Seattle at peak times seven days per week if you'd rather not brave the traffic on the freeways. Within Tacoma, public transit is handled by Pierce Transit, which has 55 natural-gas powered bus routes, including one that can get you to work downtown at your company that does search engine optimization. Toronto-style commuter and light rail routes also exist, as does an electric streetcar that operates between the Tacoma Dome Station and the University of Washington. A ferry also traverses the Sound between Point Defiance and Vashon Island, and intercity travelers can catch Greyhound buses or Amtrak trains from Tacoma Dome Station.

Air transit is shared with the city of Seattle. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is about 22 miles from central Tacoma. Sea-Tac, as it is known colloquially, is a major international airport: one you would use if you were traveling to Mesa, Arizona to do some catering, Toronto, Ontario to attend a film festival or even Bangkok, Thailand for a vacation. It is the 18th busiest airport in the world, serving more than 32 million passengers per year. The airport handles cargo and passenger flights from all major airlines and is the hub for regional operators Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.