Point Defiance Bypass Open House, Public Hearing Coming Up Later This Month

Lakewood residents will get two chances to learn more about the state and federal government's plans to route Amtrak trains through their city, as well as voice their opinion this month.

The state Department of Transportation is holding two public open houses on the Point Defiance Bypass Projct this month:

• 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Clover Park Technical College Rotunda Building, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd., Lakewood.
• 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25, at DuPont City Hall, 1700 Civic Drive, DuPont.

At the DuPont meeting, officials will also conduct a public hearing and take testimony from residents. It will run from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

WSDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration have completed the project's environmental assessment. (To read it, click here)

The project would reroute Amtrak trains that currently travel through the Port of Tacoma and Point Defiance through Downtown Tacoma, Lakewood and the DuPont area.

The Amtrak trains are expected to pass through Lakewood at some 79 miles per hour, almost twice the speed of the Sounder commuter train that began service Monday.

The public is invited to review project study findings, speak with project staff, and view project maps and displays at the two open houses.

One of the main recommendations in the assessment is to move the Amtrack Station to Freighthouse Square. The News Tribune examined the recommendation today.

We ask you, Patch users, are you comfortable with the Amtrak trains that are expected to travel through Lakewood?