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Public Works

The mission of the Public Works Department is to provide essential public services by designing, building, maintaining, and preserving public infrastructure that enhances the quality of life for the people of Tacoma in a fair, responsive, sustainable, and equitable manner. Public Works does this through an open and engaged partnership with customers, cost-effective services, and a consistent approach to satisfying the needs of the community.

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Questions?

Call 311 within Tacoma or (253) 591-5000 from anywhere else.

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Department Divisions

The Engineering Division is responsible for project and program management for the City’s transportation and capital facilities projects, including road construction projects, Sidewalk Program, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Program, Local Improvement District Program, and Bridge Operations and Maintenance Program.

Visit Engineering’s web page.

Questions? Phone: (253) 591-5188 Facilities Management

The Facilities Management Division provides Real Property, Facilities Maintenance, Fleet, and Capital Project Improvement services. Real Property Services manages Right-of-Way Property Sales, Property Acquisitions, Easements, and Property Management. Facilities Maintenance provides service and maintenance to General Government facilities, including Fire, Police, Community Service, Public Works, and the Municipal Complex. Fleet Services supports the City’s transportation requirements for the General Government by managing a safe, efficient, cost-effective, diversified fleet of vehicles and construction equipment.

Visit Facilities Management’s web page.

Questions? Phone: (253) 591-5260 Street Operations

The Street Operations Division manages several programs, including Street Repair and Maintenance, Grounds Maintenance, Signs & Markings, and Emergency Response. Street Operations is responsible for the operation and maintenance of 864 lane miles of arterial streets, 8,020 blocks of residential streets, 38,000 street signs, 19 City-owned parks, and 15.5 miles of walking, hiking, and biking trails.

Visit Street Operations’ web page.

Questions? Phone: (253) 591-5495 Transportation

The Transportation Division is responsible for leading the planning, development, and maintenance of a transportation system that realizes the vision of the Transportation Master Plan through various programs, including Vision Zero, Traffic Calming, Safe Routes to School, Active Transportation, Parking, Abandoned Automobiles, Traffic Signals, and Streetlights.

Visit Transportation’s web page.

Questions? Phone: (253) 254-2073 Capital Projects Capital Projects Map Capital Facilities Plan Map Sidewalk Program Right-of-Way Design Manual Standard Plans ADA Design Guidance Traffic Control Handbook Real Property Services Streetlight Replacement Project Mobility Options Snow Route Map

Department Director

Meet the Director

Interim Public Works Director

Kurtis D. Kingsolver, P.E.

As Public Works Department Director for the City of Tacoma, Kurtis Kingsolver is responsible for the City’s facilities management and real property services, street operations and grounds maintenance, streetlights and traffic signals, capital projects, design and construction services, fleet services, parking management, active transportation and traffic safety programs, commercial vehicle enforcement, and local improvement districts. More than 300 City staff are employed with the Public Works Department, which has a 2026/2026 adopted Biennial Budget of $231 million. The City of Tacoma Public Works Department is accredited by the American Public Works Association.

Kurtis first joined the City of Tacoma as a civil engineer in 1990 after graduating from the Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering in 1989. He quickly rose up the ranks to become traffic engineer, division manager, city engineer, and assistant director, and director within the Public Works Department and then retired as a Deputy City Manager for the City of Tacoma. Currently, Kurtis returned as Interim Public Works Director to manage the Department’s day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives and support the City Manager’s Office with the recruitment of the permanent Public Works Director and special assignments.

Education

• B.S. in Civil Engineering, Washington State University

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Questions?

Call 311 within Tacoma or (253) 591-5000 from anywhere else.