First Hill Streetcar

The First Hill Streetcar is a proposed 2.2-mile (3.5 km) streetcar line connecting the Capitol Hill, First Hill, and the International District neighborhoods in central Seattle. It will be part of the Seattle Streetcar Network.

Proposed First Hill Streetcar route showing the route approved by the City Council and the North Broadway extension. Link light rail line shown in blue.

History

First Hill is considered a regional destination due to its concentration of major medical facilities and Seattle University. It was to be served by a deep-bore Link light rail station as part of the North Link project. Due to high construction and engineering risk, Sound Transit removed the station from the North Link preferred route in July 2005. The First Hill Work Program did a study to evaluate alternative transit options to connect First Hill to the regional transit system. Neighborhood residents, institutions, and business owners strongly preferred a streetcar.

The $140 million line is funded as part of the Sound Transit 2 mass transit expansion ballot measure approved by voters in November 2008. The line is expected to open for service in 2016, at the same time University Link opens for service. However, the Seattle City Council plans to accelerate the opening date to 2012 to reduce costs.

Route and stops

The proposed line would begin at the terminus of the Waterfront Streetcar in the International District near the International District/Chinatown light rail/bus station, travel east on a S Jackson Street and S King Street one-way couplet, then turn north up Boren Avenue onto Broadway, ending near the Capitol Hill Link light rail station at Broadway and E John Street. An extension north to Aloha Street would be built if funds are available.

Sound Transit plans to have 13 stops on the line. Planning maps from the Seattle Department of Transportation and community groups show more stops.

Routing debate

There is an ongoing debate on the exact routing of the First Hill streetcar line. A community group has petitioned the city of Seattle to run the streetcar down 12th Avenue, 2 blocks east of Broadway. The rationale is to use the streetcar as a catalyst to revitalize the street with new pedestrian-oriented development. First Hill Improvement Association, however, wants the streetcar to run down Boren Avenue, turn right on Seneca Street and back to Broadway to bring it closer to the core of the neighborhood.

See also

• South Lake Union Streetcar
• Waterfront Streetcar
• Streetcars in North America

External links

• Sound Transit: First Hill Streetcar Project