Seattle — Carbarn Recommendation

November 2016

The Seattle Department of Transportation published this recommendation for the Operations and Maintenance Facility to serve the Center City Connector streetcar that will link the South Lake Union and First Hill routes:

During the Environmental Assessment (EA), Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) studied the existing capacity of the current operations and maintenance facilities located at Charles St in the Chinatown-International District and on Harrison St in South Lake Union. They found that neither would be able to accommodate the increased needs created by the Center City Connector Streetcar.

Because of this, SDOT explored the possibility of expanding one or both of the existing facilities. The EA outlined the three options (expanding the South Lake Union Facility, expanding the Charles St facility, or expanding both) and impacts associated with them. Before providing a recommendation, the City sought feedback from the public about the options.

After reviewing impacts and public comments, SDOT is recommending expanding the existing OMF in South Lake Union at Harrison St and Fairview Ave N to house the seven new streetcars that will be added when the Center City Connector project begins service in 2020. Work to expand the facility could begin as early as 2018.