sauerwald

I've been bicycle commuting for the past 12 years, and recently moved to Tacoma, WA. I am living at the top of 30th St and I work in Federal Way, near the intersection between I-5 and highway 18. The commute route which I used this morning had me going down 30th, winding around through the stadium district and downtown to the area near the Tacoma Dome, then across Puyallup Ave/20th St to pick up the trail that goes through Milton to 28th St. It all works OK, but I'd like to find an alternate route from the Tacoma Dome to 70th Ave. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Kindaslow

Have you tried checking the bike routes on Google maps? That is how I find options, sometimes driving a few options with the car when possible.

ShortLegCyclist

[Edited as I rode this route last night] My apologies, having ridden this route last evening, taking 12th is not a great option because not only is there a pretty steep hill at the end, it lets you off north of Pacific Highway so you have to cross this back south to pick up the Interurban South trail, not efficient. I had ridden 12th and the Interurban before in segments many times but never tried to connect from one to the other. Also, there are two stoplights on 12th that pretty clearly seem to be magnet triggered only, meaning they will stay red for 12th because a bike isn't enough metal to set off the magnet to change the light, so you have to schlep over the pedestrian signal button to get it to change.

Poster below, thedave80 is right that if you follow the 509 to the end it will take you over to Brown's Point and more climbing to get there, and also there is no way to get onto the 509 on bike until Port of Tacoma Road, you can't get there from St Paul/Portland Avenue.

So actually, taking 20th street to 70th and then the Interurban up to Military Road and then past Weyerhauser Corporate over into Federal Way looks like the best option.

The connection between 20th and Pacific Highway is closed right now but once it reopens you can still avoid the Tacoma Dome area by taking the 11th street bridge from downtown to St Paul to Portland and then across the bridge to Pacific Highway, then the only underpass under I 5 which is currently closed is right before the Harley Davidson store -- once that reopens it will take you to 20th clear of the Tacoma Dome area.

thedave80

sauerwald
I live in Federal Way. I'm out of town at the moment but feel free to PM me with questions. There's a few different ways to get to Federal Way from Tacoma. 509 has the widest shoulders but steep climbs to actually get into town, plus you'd end up on the opposite side of town. Pacific highway (99) has good shoulders also, but a lot of stoplights. That would be my preferred option though. If i'm right about where you're at you can hit S Tacoma way to E26th, hook right onto Puyallup Ave, cross the bridge, and head almost straight in. A third option is 20th st E after crossing the bridge, then left at 70th ave E to catch back up with Pac Hwy.

Hope this helps, like I said feel free to pm with questions