Second Seattle streetcar line gets nod
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefSeattle’s City Council Transportation Committee has given its blessing to a two-mile First Hill streetcar line, to serve Seattle’s Capitol Hill, First Hill, and International District areas and connect to the city’s recently opened Link light rail transit line. Connections to Sounder regional rail services also would be offered.
Under the plan approved by the committee, Sound Transit would pay up to $132 million between 2009 and 2014 to construct the new line and the city would manage it.
The First Hill Streetcar project would be the second new Seattle streetcar operation, following the debut of the South Lake Union Streetcar in late December 2007. The First Hill project was approved last November by voters as part of the regional, $18 billion Sound Transit expansion plan.
