Seattle Streetcar Network
Encyclopedia
The Seattle Streetcar Network will be a system of streetcar lines in Seattle, radiating out from Downtown
, in the U.S. state
of Washington. One line has been in operation since 2007, and others are planned.
The first streetcar to run in Seattle since 1941, the Waterfront Streetcar
, opened in May 1982, but its operation was suspended indefinitely in November 2005; it was a heritage streetcar
line. A second line, the South Lake Union Streetcar
, opened in December 2007, using modern cars. The First Hill Streetcar
is planned to open in 2013, and future lines to the University District
, Fremont
and Ballard
, the Seattle Center
, and the Central District
are planned. The South Lake Union Streetcar is owned by the City of Seattle and operated by King County Metro, a scheme which was used on the Waterfront Streetcar and will probably be implemented for the future lines as well.
run by Metro Transit in Seattle, Washington
, so named because much of its route was along Alaskan Way on the Elliott Bay
waterfront. Service began on May 29, 1982, which was the first streetcar run in Seattle since April 13, 1941. It was operated entirely by vintage streetcars
built between 1925 and 1930. The service has been suspended since November 19, 2005, when the maintenance barn and Broad Street station were demolished to make room for the Seattle Art Museum
's Olympic Sculpture Park
. While some of the track and eight of the nine stations remain in place, it is unclear when or if the line will return to operation.
line serving the South Lake Union
neighborhood of Seattle. Its route goes from the Westlake
hub to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
in South Lake Union. Transfers can be made at Westlake to many bus routes on the surface streets, and to some bus routes and Link Light Rail
in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel's Westlake Station. In 2008, about half a million people rode the Seattle Streetcar, averaging out to about 1,400 riders per day.
with Capitol Hill
via First Hill
in 2013. Sound Transit
originally planned its University Link
light rail extension to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington
to include a stop at First Hill, but this stop was cut from the plan in 2005 due to budget constraints. To compensate for the elimination of the station, Sound Transit included funding for First Hill Streetcar in its Sound Transit 2 ballot measure in 2008. First Hill will be connected by this streetcar to the Capitol Hill and Chinatown Link Light Rail stations, although exact routing is still undecided and under debate.
and the Seattle Art Museum
and the Lower Queen Anne
, Belltown
, Pioneer Square
, Chinatown
, and Little Saigon neighborhoods along the way.
Initially, funding for the First Ave section, from Seattle Center to King Street Station, was included in the Alaskan Way Viaduct
replacement package, but it has since been removed, and although the previous Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
supported the line, new Mayor Michael McGinn
has stated his opposition to it.
then come back up University Way (The Ave
), ending at a turnback terminus north of NE 50th Street. While no funding has been secured for this route, it is noted in the 2008 Street Network Report that it has "the strongest relationship to interests in the Washington Legislature" of all the currently planned but not funded routes.
and Ballard
neighborhoods of Seattle. It is currently in the planning stages, but the route mentioned so far would go up along Westlake Ave N, possible adjacent to it in dedicated right of way, then cross the Fremont Bridge and continue up Leary towards Ballard, ending at 22nd & Ballard in the center of the Ballard business district. Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin
has said that he would like to build this streetcar (along with a light rail line out to West Seattle) in the next few years.
is shown on streetcar planning documents. Although planning is not finished, it appears that it will continue north along Fremont Ave N from the Fremont neighborhood to 50th. It may continue all the way through to Downtown, or just be a shuttle, forcing Zoo passengers to transfer in Fremont.
Downtown Seattle
Downtown is the central business district of Seattle, Washington. It is fairly compact compared to other city centers on the West Coast because of its geographical situation: hemmed in on the north and east by hills, on the west by the Elliott Bay, and on the south by reclaimed land that was once...
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. One line has been in operation since 2007, and others are planned.
The first streetcar to run in Seattle since 1941, the Waterfront Streetcar
Waterfront Streetcar
The Waterfront Streetcar, officially the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar Line, was a -long streetcar line run by Metro Transit in Seattle, Washington, so named because much of its route was along Alaskan Way on the Elliott Bay waterfront...
, opened in May 1982, but its operation was suspended indefinitely in November 2005; it was a heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcars or heritage trams are a development of the heritage railways that are becoming popular across the world. As with modern streetcar systems, the vehicles are referred to as trams or tramcars in the United Kingdom, Australasia and certain other places , but as streetcars or...
line. A second line, the South Lake Union Streetcar
South Lake Union Streetcar
The Seattle Streetcar—South Lake Union Line is a streetcar line connecting the South Lake Union neighborhood to Downtown Seattle, United States. Service began on December 12, 2007...
, opened in December 2007, using modern cars. The First Hill Streetcar
First Hill Streetcar
The Seattle Streetcar—First Hill Line, commonly called the First Hill Streetcar, is a proposed streetcar line connecting the Capitol Hill, First Hill, and the International District neighborhoods in central Seattle...
is planned to open in 2013, and future lines to the University District
University District, Seattle, Washington
The University District is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, so named because the main campus of the University of Washington is located there. The UW moved in two years after the area was annexed to Seattle, while much of the area was still clear cut forest or stump farmland...
, Fremont
Fremont, Seattle, Washington
Fremont is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Originally a separate city, it was annexed to Seattle in 1891. Named after Fremont, Nebraska, the hometown of two of its founders, L. H. Griffith and E...
and Ballard
Ballard, Seattle, Washington
Ballard is a neighborhood located in the northwestern part of Seattle, Washington. To the north it is bounded by Crown Hill, ; to the east by Greenwood, Phinney Ridge and Fremont ; to the south by the Lake Washington Ship Canal; and to the west by Puget Sound’s Shilshole Bay. The neighborhood’s...
, the Seattle Center
Seattle Center
Seattle Center is a park and arts and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington. The campus is the site used in 1962 by the Century 21 Exposition. It is located just north of Belltown in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood.-Attractions:...
, and the Central District
Central District, Seattle, Washington
The Central District is a mostly residential district in Seattle located east of Cherry Hill, west of Madrona and Leschi, south of Capitol Hill, and north of Rainier Valley...
are planned. The South Lake Union Streetcar is owned by the City of Seattle and operated by King County Metro, a scheme which was used on the Waterfront Streetcar and will probably be implemented for the future lines as well.
Waterfront
The Waterfront Streetcar, officially the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar Line, was a 1.6 miles (2.6 km)-long streetcar lineTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
run by Metro Transit in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, so named because much of its route was along Alaskan Way on the Elliott Bay
Elliott Bay
Elliott Bay is the body of water on which Seattle, Washington, is located. A line drawn from Alki Point in the south to West Point in the north serves to mark the generally accepted division between the bay and the open sound...
waterfront. Service began on May 29, 1982, which was the first streetcar run in Seattle since April 13, 1941. It was operated entirely by vintage streetcars
Heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcars or heritage trams are a development of the heritage railways that are becoming popular across the world. As with modern streetcar systems, the vehicles are referred to as trams or tramcars in the United Kingdom, Australasia and certain other places , but as streetcars or...
built between 1925 and 1930. The service has been suspended since November 19, 2005, when the maintenance barn and Broad Street station were demolished to make room for the Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum is an art museum located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It maintains three major facilities: its main museum in downtown Seattle; the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the central Seattle waterfront, which opened on...
's Olympic Sculpture Park
Olympic Sculpture Park
The Olympic Sculpture Park is a public park in Seattle, Washington that opened on January 20, 2007.The park consists of a outdoor sculpture museum and beach. The park was designed by Weiss/Manfredi Architects, along with Charles Anderson Landscape Architecture and other consultants. It is...
. While some of the track and eight of the nine stations remain in place, it is unclear when or if the line will return to operation.
South Lake Union
The South Lake Union Streetcar is a 1.3 mile-long low-floor modern streetcarLow-floor tram
A low-floor tram is a tram that has no stair steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. The low-floor design improves the accessibility of the tram for the public, and also may provide larger windows and more airspace....
line serving the South Lake Union
South Lake Union, Seattle, Washington
South Lake Union is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, so named because it is at the south tip of Lake Union.The official boundaries of the City of Seattle Urban Center are Denny Way on the south, beyond which is Denny Triangle; Interstate 5 on the east, beyond which is Capitol Hill; Aurora...
neighborhood of Seattle. Its route goes from the Westlake
Westlake, Seattle, Washington
Westlake is a neighborhood in the city of Seattle, in the US state of Washington, named after its location on the western shore of Lake Union. It is a relatively narrow neighborhood, there being only a few blocks between the shoreline and its western limit at Aurora Avenue N., beyond which is Queen...
hub to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, is one of the world’s leading cancer research institutes...
in South Lake Union. Transfers can be made at Westlake to many bus routes on the surface streets, and to some bus routes and Link Light Rail
Link Light Rail
Sound Transit Link Light Rail is a rapid transit project in the Greater Seattle region, originally approved by a ballot measure in November 1996. Two lines are currently operating as of 2009: Tacoma Link, which uses 3 vehicles built by Škoda, and Central Link, which uses 35 vehicles built by Kinki...
in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel's Westlake Station. In 2008, about half a million people rode the Seattle Streetcar, averaging out to about 1,400 riders per day.
First Hill
The First Hill Streetcar will connect ChinatownInternational District, Seattle, Washington
The Chinatown-International District of Seattle, Washington is an ethnic enclave neighborhood and is the center of Seattle's Asian American community. The neighborhood is multiethnic, consisting mainly of people who are of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino ethnicity...
with Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington
Capitol Hill is the most densely populated residential district in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the center of the city's gay and counterculture communities, and is one of the city's most prominent nightlife and entertainment districts....
via First Hill
First Hill, Seattle, Washington
First Hill is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, named for the hill on which it is located. The hill, in turn, is so named for being the first hill one encounters traveling east from downtown Seattle toward Lake Washington....
in 2013. Sound Transit
Sound Transit
Sound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
originally planned its University Link
University Link
University Link is a future light rail extension of Sound Transit's Link light rail system in Seattle, Washington, USA. The line will connect downtown Seattle with the University of Washington via Capitol Hill. The line was approved by the Federal Transit Administration in November 2006...
light rail extension to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
to include a stop at First Hill, but this stop was cut from the plan in 2005 due to budget constraints. To compensate for the elimination of the station, Sound Transit included funding for First Hill Streetcar in its Sound Transit 2 ballot measure in 2008. First Hill will be connected by this streetcar to the Capitol Hill and Chinatown Link Light Rail stations, although exact routing is still undecided and under debate.
Aloha extension
The First Hill Streetcar may be extended about a half-mile north along Broadway from John Street to Aloha Street. This extension was not funded by the Sound Transit Phase 2 ballot measure, though, so it would have to be funded by some other source in the future.Central
The Central Line streetcar, sometimes called the First Ave Streetcar, is planned to extend from the Seattle Center near Key Arena to the Central District at 23rd & Jackson via First Ave and Jackson Street. It will serve downtown destinations like Pike Place MarketPike Place Market
Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Market opened August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers' markets in the United States. It is a place of business for many small farmers,...
and the Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum is an art museum located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It maintains three major facilities: its main museum in downtown Seattle; the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the central Seattle waterfront, which opened on...
and the Lower Queen Anne
Lower Queen Anne, Seattle, Washington
Lower Queen Anne is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, at the base of Queen Anne Hill. While its boundaries are not precise, the toponym usually refers to the shopping, office, and residential districts to the north and west of Seattle Center. The districts to the west of the Center are also...
, Belltown
Belltown, Seattle, Washington
Belltown is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, United States, in the 98121 Zip Code, located on the city's downtown waterfront, on land that was artificially flattened as part of a regrading project...
, Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington
Pioneer Square is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of Downtown Seattle, Washington, USA. It was once the heart of the city: Seattle's founders settled there in 1852, following a brief six-month settlement at Alki Point on the far side of Elliott Bay. The early structures in the neighborhood...
, Chinatown
International District, Seattle, Washington
The Chinatown-International District of Seattle, Washington is an ethnic enclave neighborhood and is the center of Seattle's Asian American community. The neighborhood is multiethnic, consisting mainly of people who are of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino ethnicity...
, and Little Saigon neighborhoods along the way.
Initially, funding for the First Ave section, from Seattle Center to King Street Station, was included in the Alaskan Way Viaduct
Alaskan Way Viaduct
The Alaskan Way Viaduct, completed on April 4, 1953, is a double-decked elevated section of State Route 99 that runs along the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle's Industrial District and downtown Seattle. It is the smaller of the two major north–south traffic corridors through Seattle ,...
replacement package, but it has since been removed, and although the previous Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
Greg Nickels
Gregory J. "Greg" Nickels was the 51st mayor of Seattle, Washington. He took office on January 1, 2002 and was reelected to a second term in 2005. In August 2009, Nickels finished third in the primary election for Seattle mayor, failing to qualify for the November 2009 general election, and...
supported the line, new Mayor Michael McGinn
Michael McGinn
Michael "Mike" Patrick McGinn is the mayor of Seattle, a lawyer, Greenwood neighborhood activist and a former Sierra Club state chair...
has stated his opposition to it.
University
The University Line streetcar, or U Line, would be a 3.5 mile-long extension of the South Lake Union Streetcar to the University District. The University District is the second largest urban center and transit destination in Seattle after Downtown. The streetcar extension is currently in the planning stages but the route outlined in the 2008 Streetcar Network Report would extend north to the U District via Fairview Avenue North and Eastlake Avenue. Once on Campus Parkway it would jog down to the University of Washington Medical CenterUniversity of Washington Medical Center
The University of Washington Medical Center is a nationally renowned hospital located along the Montlake Cut and Portage Bay in the University District of Seattle, Washington, USA. It is one of the teaching hospitals affiliated with the University of Washington School of Medicine. UW Medical Center...
then come back up University Way (The Ave
The Ave
University Way NE, colloquially The Ave , is the commercial heart of the University District and the off-campus extension of the University of Washington in Seattle. Once "a department store eight blocks long," The Ave has gradually turned into what now resembles an eight-block-long global food...
), ending at a turnback terminus north of NE 50th Street. While no funding has been secured for this route, it is noted in the 2008 Street Network Report that it has "the strongest relationship to interests in the Washington Legislature" of all the currently planned but not funded routes.
Fremont-Ballard
The Fremont-Ballard streetcar is a planned extension of the South Lake Union Streetcar to the FremontFremont, Seattle, Washington
Fremont is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Originally a separate city, it was annexed to Seattle in 1891. Named after Fremont, Nebraska, the hometown of two of its founders, L. H. Griffith and E...
and Ballard
Ballard, Seattle, Washington
Ballard is a neighborhood located in the northwestern part of Seattle, Washington. To the north it is bounded by Crown Hill, ; to the east by Greenwood, Phinney Ridge and Fremont ; to the south by the Lake Washington Ship Canal; and to the west by Puget Sound’s Shilshole Bay. The neighborhood’s...
neighborhoods of Seattle. It is currently in the planning stages, but the route mentioned so far would go up along Westlake Ave N, possible adjacent to it in dedicated right of way, then cross the Fremont Bridge and continue up Leary towards Ballard, ending at 22nd & Ballard in the center of the Ballard business district. Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin
Richard Conlin
Richard Conlin is the current president of the Seattle City Council, first elected to council in 1997 and reelected in 2001, 2005 and 2009. He was first elected, unanimously, by the council to be their president on 7 January 2008 and was unanimously reelected on 4 January 2010.- Council duties :As...
has said that he would like to build this streetcar (along with a light rail line out to West Seattle) in the next few years.
Zoo
An extension of the Fremont-Ballard line from Fremont to Woodland Park ZooWoodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo is a zoological garden around the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Occupying the western half of Woodland Park, the zoo began as a small menagerie on the estate of Guy C. Phinney, a Canadian-born lumber mill owner and real estate developer...
is shown on streetcar planning documents. Although planning is not finished, it appears that it will continue north along Fremont Ave N from the Fremont neighborhood to 50th. It may continue all the way through to Downtown, or just be a shuttle, forcing Zoo passengers to transfer in Fremont.
See also
- Link Light RailLink Light RailSound Transit Link Light Rail is a rapid transit project in the Greater Seattle region, originally approved by a ballot measure in November 1996. Two lines are currently operating as of 2009: Tacoma Link, which uses 3 vehicles built by Škoda, and Central Link, which uses 35 vehicles built by Kinki...
Puget Sound's Light Rail Network - Sounder Commuter RailSounder Commuter RailSounder commuter rail is a regional rail service operated by BNSF on behalf of Sound Transit. Service operates Monday through Friday during peak hours from Seattle, Washington, north to Everett and south to Tacoma. As of 2011, schedules serve the traditional peak commutes, with most trains running...
Regional Commuter Rail Service - Streetcars in North AmericaStreetcars in North AmericaElectric streetcars—trams outside North America—once were the chief mode of public transit in scores of North American cities. Most municipal systems were dismantled in the mid-20th century....
- List of streetcar systems in the United States
External links
- Seattle Streetcar official site
- King County Metro official site
- Flickr: The Seattle Streetcar Pool
- Guide to the Seattle Municipal Street Railway Photograph Collection: 1913-1940 Special Collections, UW Libraries