The Newsfeed heads south to Pierce County

Each week on The Newsfeed, host Paris Jackson and a team of veteran journalists dive deep into one topic and provide impactful reporting, interviews and community insights from sources you can trust. Each day this week, this post will be updated with a new story from the team.

Before the bus comes the sidewalk: Pierce’s access gap 

Story published 8/3/2026

On the November ballot, Pierce County voters will be given a chance to decide whether to raise their sales tax by point 3% to expand bus options in the city. 

A bus is only useful if you can actually reach it, note disability advocates. Across the region, gaps in sidewalks — or sidewalks that aren’t accessible — mean some riders, especially those with disabilities, can’t safely get to a stop at all.  

Speed bumps, cracks, loose gravel, missing sidewalks all pose an obstacle to Krystal Monteros as she makes her way to the bus stop closest to her apartment in South Tacoma. 

“I don’t look straight up. I usually stay looking down at the ground,” said Monteros. “And then I always have to concentrate on the speed bumps and stuff too.” 

“There’s a bunch of cracks down there on the sidewalk. I’ve actually have fallen over on the sidewalk over there too.” 

One of the biggest obstructions on the path is the last 10 feet before her bus stop when the concrete ends and is replaced with loose gravel.  

“When it’s wet, it takes a lot more effort to go through there,” said Monteros.   

Monteros has advocated for efforts to get city council to make sidewalk improvements. And also supports the proposed Pierce Transit Measure, saying she would benefit from buses running later in the night. 

“There’s so many times I’ve had to leave events early,” said Monteros. “There’s there hasn’t been a package this big in like over ten years” 

Pierce Transit says the measure would add four new bus routes, increase the frequency on 21 other routes, expand paratransit services and give seniors a ride free. The measure will be on the November ballot.