Seattle — Streetcar Plan Advances

Rail Transit Online, July 2008

Public meetings are being held during July seeking input on four proposed new streetcar lines that would link numerous Seattle neighborhoods to downtown. The routes include the Central Line running primarily along First Avenue from Seattle Center to King Street Station.

Also proposed is the 4.4-mi. (7.1 km) Westlake Center-Ballard-Fremont line, and a 3.5-mi. (5.6 km) extension of the existing South Lake Union Streetcar from Westlake Center to the University District. The 2.8-mi. (4.5 km) Pioneer Square-First Hill-Capitol Hill line completes the package.

City officials are reportedly anxious to get work underway on the four-mile (6.4 km), $205-million Central project by 2010 so it can open two years later when demolition begins on the viaduct carrying the Alaskan Way, one of Seattle's major highways.