KTTH

Local businesses hurting as Tacoma Link extension construction drags on

Aug 1, 2022, 6:00 PM | Updated: Aug 2, 2022, 8:41 am

(Photo courtesy of Tacoma Light Rail/Flickr)...

(Photo courtesy of Tacoma Light Rail/Flickr)

(Photo courtesy of Tacoma Light Rail/Flickr)

Construction work began on the Tacoma Link service Sunday, July 31, with the light rail closing until 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 in order to open its 2.4-mile extension next year, disrupting local businesses in the process.

“I was told lies across the board. We were told this was a worthwhile project. It’s not,” Steven Salamone, owner of Salamone’s Pizza, said on the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH. “We were told that they would keep the closures to a minimum. That they would run through it as quickly as possible. This is an absolute miscarriage of justice.”

The extension is set to have six new stations as free bus shuttles will replace Tacoma Link service for a few weeks this summer while crews connect the existing line with the Hilltop extension.

“They broke ground in front of my shop in summer of 2019. Fast forward three years, they’re still closing roads here all around my shop,” Salamone said. “They still got construction materials and construction vehicles strewn about alongside road signs, closures. They’re still digging up parts of the rail that they already installed, and then just chip it all out. And, you know, I can’t even imagine what the carbon footprint of this project is.”

Salamone stated a dip in sales occurs immediately with each closure or construction project that his business has to work around.

“The more trouble people have coming to patronize your business, the less people are going to come,” Salamone said.

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3 – 6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here.

Jason Rantz on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 3-7pm toThe Jason Rantz Show.

Jason Rantz Show

KTTH

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Watch Out For This Scam!!

Permanent supportive housing is a scam and it’s being used to convince communities to accept often-dangerous homeless housing projects that don’t even address underlying causes of homelessness. Watch this to get the truth. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen […]

14 hours ago

Burien lawsuit...

Jason Rantz

Exclusive: City of Burien sues King County for breaking contract in homeless camping ban

The City of Burien filed a lawsuit against King County for its refusal to enforce a homeless camping ban that was lawfully adopted.

21 hours ago

Image: The Stevens County Sheriff's Office says it recently received an odd call from a Sasquatch h...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Sheriff’s office asked legality of hunting Sasquatch in Stevens County

A Sasquatch hunter had an interesting question for the Stevens County sheriff. Is it legal to hunt Sasquatch?

2 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Double Shot: Do you wait for the crosswalk when the light is red?

Nothing brings Jason more joy than doing this one thing at crosswalks. That is crossing the crosswalk with no cars, and the light says, “Don’t walk.” It’s even better if people are standing there. Enjoy another Double Shot. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH […]

2 days ago

Image: Children bike past Wilson Elementary in Spokane....

Jason Rantz

Rantz: ‘Racist’ Spokane elementary school’s ‘slaves and hobos’ ignites controversy

After a teacher told students they could dress as "slaves and hobos" for an event, the Spokane NAACP cried foul.

3 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Double Shot: Stop doing this ONE thing on LinkedIn. Here’s another Double Shot.

Jason has been spending more time on LinkedIn. He really enjoys the feature that shows people have viewed your profile. Jake and Jason think it’s a cool feature, but it’s also creepy. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to […]

3 days ago

Local businesses hurting as Tacoma Link extension construction drags on