Seattle ponders addition of more streetcar lines

Seattle is expected to consider six new streetcar lines that would expand the system beyond the existing South Lake Union line and the mothballed waterfront streetcar.

The feasibility study, which the City Council's Transportation Committee approved Tuesday morning, would consider factors such as ridership and possible traffic conflicts. Results would be out in early May.

The committee's decision, which must be approved by the full council, is likely to pass Monday.

Streetcars are "part of the solution" to the city's traffic congestion, said the committee's chairwoman, Councilwoman Jan Drago, after the meeting. The committee's move, however, "is not a final action. It is a proposed system -- there may be fatal flaws (that) we need to find out."

Streetcar backers and council supporters have talked for years about adding new lines to lure people out of their cars. The study would cost $375,000.

Five of the routes were proposed by the Seattle Streetcar Alliance, a streetcar advocacy group; a Fremont route was identified by a city consultant.

The waterfront streetcar route is being operated with diesel-powered buses since the vintage streetcars were removed more than two years ago and their storage barn torn down to make way for the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Startup for that streetcar depends on when a new office-apartment-retail development, including a new maintenance barn, can be opened in Pioneer Square.

The $52-million South Lake Union Streetcar has its own barn. That line began operating between Westlake Center and South Lake Union in mid-December. Ridership soared to about 3,900 daily during the holidays, when no fares were charged. It since has dropped to roughly 1,000 daily, said Ethan Melone, project manager. General adult fare is $1.50.

The study, as approved by the committee, would estimate construction costs per mile and yearly operation and maintenance costs for the six lines. Among other issues, it would identify detailed street corridors, issues with construction and utility location, how the lines would fit into Metro's bus routes, estimate the number of riders and provide ways to finance the lines, which are costlier than buses.

At the request of Councilman Nick Licata, the study also will examine how spending on streetcars will help improve transit service among neighborhoods. And at Councilman Tom Rasmussen's suggestion, it will compare costs of new streetcar lines with the cost of similar service at Metro and Sound Transit

Licata said he doesn't want investments in new streetcars, likely to be operated by Metro, to deprive the city of needed new hours of Metro bus-transit service. Rasmussen asked for the comparative analysis because, he said, transit money is scarce and should be spent for the best possible return.

STREETCAR NETWORK CONCEPT

Plans were announced to launch a study of six new streetcar lines networked throughout Seattle, which would expand the existing South Lake Union and waterfront lines.

1. From the waterfront to Interbay to Ballard, likely along the Elliott Avenue West-15th Avenue Northwest corridor.

2. From South Lake Union, north along the east side of Queen Anne Hill, then to Fremont and possibly Ballard. Possible routes include Westlake or Dexter Avenues and Nickerson Street.

3. From the east side of Lake Union to the University District, likely on Eastlake Avenue East.

4. South from Jackson Street, possibly along First Avenue, then to West Seattle.

5. East on Jackson, north on 12th Avenue, then to Broadway and Capitol Hill, a line proposed initially by Sound Transit and included in a failed ballot measure last fall.

6. Circling the Seattle Center, then heading east, possibly along Mercer, to Broadway and Capitol Hill.