Seattle

January 2016

First Hill In Service

Seattle’s First Hill Streetcar, initially discussed a decade ago, started carrying passengers on February 23, 2016 in a “soft launch” with no fares being charged.

Service was to begin on the 2.5-mile line shortly after 11 a.m., said Rick Sheridan, spokesman for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) said as reported by the Seattle Times. A formal grand-opening celebration , with performances and neighborhood festivals, is planned for a later date.

The below map shows the new line in relation to the previously opened South Lake Union Streetcar and the planned extensons which will connect the two and extend the First Hill line through the active Broadway district:

The streetcar was proposed as an alternative to an expensive deep bore station in the light rail line being built under First Hill to the University of Washington. The streetcar line connects to the light rail line at two other stations.

Service was planned to start in 2014, but Czech streetcar manufacturer Inekon ran into delays that postponed the opening.