When I asked Seattle City councilmember Jean Godden last night if there was any chance her fellow councilmember Tom Rasmussen’s concern (we included his objections in this week’s coverage of a Council briefing on the streetcar) about the cost of a Capitol Hill streetcar might, um, derail the project, she dismissed it out of hand. “Tom just doesn’t like rail,” she said. “He likes his electric buses.” Apparently councilmember Jan Drago — head of the Council’s transporation committee, it should be noted — isn’t quite as dismissive. Today, this e-mail landed in the CHS inbox asking for citizens to voice support for the streetcar. Council contact info here. With Drago leaving the council and Rasmussen entrenched to finish his term, it’s interesting these two are going toe to toe on this.
To Capitol Hill, First Hill, and International District residents and businesses,
On Tuesday April 7th the Seattle City Councils Transportation Committee discussed the future First Hill Streetcar. As you know, the streetcar is going to be built in lieu of the First Hill light rail station.
The City of Seattle and Sound Transit are currently working on an agreement regarding design, construction, and operations of the streetcar. The plan is for the City of Seattle to resume responsibility for the streetcar. It is anticipated that the city can construct and begin operating the streetcar sooner than Sound Transit, but agreement negotiations are still being discussed.
I, along with the majority of my City Council colleagues support the streetcar. However Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has questioned the need for the streetcar. Councilmember Rasmussen thinks additional bus service would better serve the area. What he fails to realize is that voters approved Proposition 1, which included the streetcar. And, Capitol Hill, First Hill, and the International District residents overwhelmingly supported the streetcar over buses when Sound Transit conducted the First Hill Transit Connector Alternatives study over two years ago.
I believe Capitol Hill, First Hill, and the International District will be better served by the streetcar and I do not support reversing the vote of the people. These neighborhoods have waited far too long for reliable transit alternatives. Its time to move forward, not backwards.
Please join me in supporting the First Hill streetcar. Councilmembers need to hear from you again.
Sincerely,
Jan Drago
The fully funded C. Hill street car line is the best mass transit idea to come along in many, many years.
And the 12th Ave. loop makes it even better. 12th Ave will grow eventually into new buildings with much higher density and street retail – only time as a factor.
Sound Transit has the gold filled purse, voters said yes and are paying the bill, let’s decide NOW and get to the building as soon as possible.
Bonus, sorely needed jobs and cash flowing, so, the sooner the better. (another bonus, costs have decreased in the slump – great time to bid large projects)
George Bakan, SGN
It’s often argued that streetcars, while expensive transportation alternatives, might be effective as part of an economic development plan for underdeveloped residential/commercial streets. On the other hand, one of the arguments given for the Sound Transit streetcar is that it will serve the First Hill hospitals. New residential/commercial development is not going to be fostered on the sites of Harborview, Swedish, and Virginia Mason Hospitals by a streetcar line. No doubt those institutions should be served by good public transportation. But, presently, Metro serves those hospitals with a good number of express buses that are faster and more direct than the proposed streetcar ride. Will the commuters to those hospitals feel their situation has improved after the streetcar line is built when they will have to transfer at 5th and Jackson or Broadway and John for a non-express streetcar ride to work? If there is to be a streetcar paid for by Sound Transit that links the Capitol Hill station with the I.D. station, then the route should be chosen to support new economic development where it’s needed and where existing faster bus routes are non-existent, such as 12th Avenue.
As a neighborhood resident and bicyclist, I say NO to new streetcars. You try negotiating the tire-grabbing rails along with responding to traffic. 12th Avenue has a bike lane. Streetcars are completely incompatible with bikes.
AND they cost a bundle. AND they take away from bus service.
Streetcars and bicycles are completely compatible…
It’s true that streetcar tracks are very dangerous for bicycles- the streetcar tracks running along the outer lanes along Westlake have rendered that road basically off limits to bikes… one wheel in the tracks and you’re on the ground, guaranteed.
That said, if the tracks run in the center of the roadway (as they do in many cities) with islands in the center for loading/unloading, then bikes can continue to safely ride along the sides of the road.
For 12th Ave, that would just mean losing some street parking in places, especially where there are streetcar stops. That road is definitely wide enough to accommodate streetcars and bicycles.
I ride my bike down Westlake and Fairview all the time and never have an issue with the tracks. You just have to be careful and pay attention. If you can’t handle you’re bike well enough to deal with tracks you probably shouldn’t be riding in the street. If it’s really a problem there is always a parallel street you can ride on.
The fully funded C. Hill street car line is the best mass transit idea to come along in many, many years.
And the 12th Ave. loop makes it even better. 12th Ave will grow eventually into new buildings with much higher density and street retail – only time as a factor.
Sound Transit has the gold filled purse, voters said yes and are paying the bill, let’s decide NOW and get to the building as soon as possible.
Bonus, sorely needed jobs and cash flowing, so, the sooner the better. (another bonus, costs have decreased in the slump – great time to bid large projects)
George Bakan, SGN
I am really tired of people questioning streetcars and touting buses as equal. Likening the level of service of buses to streetcars is ridiculous and really demonstrates ignorance. It is true that streetcars are more expensive than buses, but they provide a superior quality of ride (you can actually stand without needing to brace oneself to guard against sudden turns or potholes), they are designed to hold more people (wider aisles and seat orientation), they allow boarding and offboarding at multiple points, and I think most importantly, they demonstrate sincerity and investment by the city in infrastructure that supports and promotes density and thereby encourages development and economic growth.