streetcar – Alliance for Pioneer Square

Downtown Streetcar Open House Tomorrow (11/19/14)

SDOT is holding an open house on the Center City Streetcar project tomorrow evening – covering the City Council approved segment that would tie the South Lake Union and the First Hill streetcar lines together.

The open house will be from 5:00 – 7:30 PM, Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 85 Pike Street, on the 3rd floor of the Economy Building.

This streetcar line will operate in its own lane on First Avenue (to ensure fast, reliable service) with trains arriving every 5 minutes. Stops are planned near Pike Place Market, the Marion Street Bridge to the ferries at Colman Dock and Pioneer Square.

Project staff will present information on urban design opportunities, connection options between First Avenue and Westlake, parking strategies and construction phasing throughout the event. Please drop in anytime between 5:00 and 7:30PM to find out about this exciting connection in Seattle’s future.

Historic Districts are Older, Smaller, Better

I always knew I liked historic neighborhoods better than others because of the way they make me feel. A new report by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Green Lab takes a deeper look into why many of us feel that way. Older, Smaller, Better studied historic districts around the country, including Seattle’s own Chinatown/International District and the Pike Pine Corridor. Among their findings:

1/ Older, smaller buildings provide space for a strong local economy

2/ Older business districts provide affordable, flexible space for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds

3/ The creative economy thrives in older mixed-use neighborhoods

4/ Young people love old buildings

I think that last point might have been a typo and should really have read, “People young at heart love old buildings,” because I plan to love them for a long time to come.

David Yeaworth, Deputy Director

Give Feedback on First Avenue Streetcar

If you missed the Center City Connector Open House on October 29th, you can still learn about the options and provide feedback online. The goal of the Connector is to connect the South Lake Union and First Hill streetcars through downtown, to make it easier for more people to get north-south. SDOT has honed in on a streetcar along 1st Avenue, connecting Jackson Street to Westlake. They are now looking at operating details – this streetcar could share a lane with traffic, or run in its own lane. Each option has its trade-offs.

For more details on the options you can read about them here. To send your input, take the survey here.

Do you think the streetcar should have its own lane? Or should the streetcar be mixed in with traffic? The purpose of this survey is to get feedback on which option you prefer and why. It should take about 10 minutes to complete. Thanks for sharing your ideas! Your comments will help inform a final recommendation that staff will make to the Mayor and City Council in late 2013/early 2014. You can learn more about the project background and the analysis leading up to this point at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/centercityconnector.htm