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October 11-13: Adjusting the NB SR 99 Bus Lane to Keep People Moving

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Looking south at SR 99 during the evening commute on October 8. The newly reinstalled northbound bus lane is pictured on the far left.

Looking south at SR 99 during the evening commute on October 8. The newly reinstalled northbound bus lane is pictured on the far left.

 

After working with our transportation partners to reinstall the bus-only lane on northbound SR 99 north of the West Seattle Bridge in late September, we are adjusting the bus-only lane this weekend to give people driving more time to merge before the bus-only lane begins.

 

Why was the bus lane re-installed?

 

There are 12 bus routes carrying 30,000 people each day into downtown Seattle that use this stretch of SR 99.   The lane was originally installed to help provide transit reliability as WSDOT worked to demolish the Alaskan Way viaduct and construct the new tunnel.

 

As we prepare for tolling to begin in the SR 99 tunnel on November 9, we are committed to providing a reliable commute for those bus riders from West Seattle. We recognize that the re-installation of the bus-only lane has had traffic impacts on all commuters to and from West Seattle. Adjusting the bus-only lane to give drivers and buses time to adjust and additional distance to access the correct lanes will keep people moving more reliably and help transit more easily access the dedicated bus-only lane.

 

Over the summer, we observed buses that used northbound SR 99 to travel from West Seattle to downtown Seattle were less reliable, with some increased travel times. Our partners at King County Metro report that the re-installed bus-only lane has improved transit reliability during the congested peak period, and we want to make that reliable trip even more efficient!

 

Here’s what you can expect:

 

NB SR 99 Bus Lane Graphic

 

SCHEDULE

 

Our crews will begin working on Saturday, October 12. They will complete this work by the time the NB SR 99 tunnel reopens at 4 AM Monday, October 14. We coordinated these changes with the tunnel closure in order to minimize impacts to the traveling public and take advantage of a positive weather forecast.

 

CLOSURE | DETOUR

 

Crews will be working inside the WSDOT closure of northbound SR 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the tunnel.  Please plan and prepare for impacts to travel over the weekend.

 

PROJECT OUTCOME

 

In the Transportation Operations Center (TOC), we’ve been monitoring traffic on NB SR 99 and on the West Seattle Bridge. After noting additional congestion and delay for general purpose traffic exiting from West Seattle, creating traffic in the area, our goal is to provide space for drivers to merge before the bus-only lane begins, reducing travel times and maintaining reliability for buses.

 

Given the challenges that West Seattle bus riders have experienced this year, we will be watching closely to see how the new pathway improves travel times and reliability for these riders and to identify and implement signal and operational changes, as needed.

 

We will continue to monitor as drivers and buses get used to the restored bus-only lane, and we will continue working with our partners to ensure buses are able to move along that pathway.

 

We look forward to the opening of the Columbia St two-way transit pathway and Alaskan Way for buses, which will help provide an improved transit experience for our riders.

 

Please plan ahead and prepare for impacts to travel.

 

A person waits to board the RapidRide C Line at a bus stop in West Seattle.

A person waits to board the RapidRide C Line at a bus stop in West Seattle.

 

Traffic patterns will continue to change as people adjust to the reinstalled bus lane and the beginning of tolling in the SR 99 tunnel. During this period of transition, please plan for extra time, shift the hours you commute, and avoid driving alone downtown if possible. With the installation of this bus lane, taking the bus is a great transportation option from West Seattle. Thanks for your patience as we all continue to navigate the Seattle Squeeze.

 

Want more information?

 

For the latest travel information, please follow our @SDOTTraffic Twitter account for real-time updates on incidents impacting Seattle’s streets. You can also check our live traffic cameras on the SDOT Travelers Map.

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ORCA Comes to the Monorail: All Aboard!

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The ORCA Card program is robust, allowing folks to easily tap onto King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, the Seattle Streetcar, the King County Water Taxi, and Washington State Ferries. Now, Seattle Center Monorail will join the ORCA family in October!

 

Monorail will begin accepting ORCA starting Monday, October 7. Transit enthusiasts rejoice!

 

Here’s the story:

 

Monorail. Photo courtesy of Niki Seligman.

 

A study was conducted, at the request of Seattle City Councilmembers in 2014, to determine whether ORCA was a feasible fare option to implement on the Monorail.

 

Guess what: it was! Next steps? The process toward implementation.

 

Seattle Center Monorail is a public-private partnership between the city and Seattle Monorail Services (SMS). This meant that talks began between SMS and the City. Next came approval by the ORCA governing board and a partnership between the City of Seattle and King County Metro, who sponsors the Monorail’s participation in ORCA.

 

 

As part of Monorail accepting ORCA, changes will be made to fares.

 

Using ORCA Card at Seattle Center Monorail

 

The proposed fare change for adults is increasing from $2.50 to $3.00. Age classifications will also change to align with the seven regional transit agencies that are members of the ORCA system. All reduced fares will be $1.50 (youth, Regional Reduced Fare Program (RRFP) for seniors and people with disabilities, and ORCA LIFT).

 

 

What will this mean for your Monorail commute?

 

 

Seattle Center. Photo Credit: Scott Webb via Unsplash.

 

 

There are many benefits to using ORCA on the Monorail, including:

  • The ability to transfer from other forms of transit without paying for a new ticket;
  • The ease of using your ORCA card without having to dig through your wallet; and
  • Quick and easy access to a central hub.

 

 

When you arrive at the Monorail station, you’ll give your ORCA card to the Monorail cashier to pay your fare.

 

Squeeze Your Way Downtown

 

Seattle Ferris Wheel.

Seattle Ferris Wheel. Photo by Vincent Camacho, via Unsplash.

 

 

The Seattle Center Monorail has two stops, connecting you directly between the Seattle Center and downtown Seattle. Throughout the Seattle Squeeze, we are all working hard to reduce traffic on our streets as major infrastructure changes impact how we get around downtown.

 

Now, with tolling in the SR 99 tunnel beginning on November 9 which will bring more changes to traffic on our city streets in early November, the monorail’s direct connection in the heart of our city provides an opportunity to cut down on driving and save time on your commute.

 

 

Here’s what the Seattle Center had to say:

“We hope the ability to use ORCA on this vital link between Seattle Center and numerous downtown bus lines and Link Light Rail will result in greater transit use to our theaters, family destinations and other campus venues.”

 

 

The New Arena at Seattle Center is also excited about Monorail’s connection to the Arena!

 

“Transportation is a key priority for us to ensure our fans have a good experience getting to and from events at the New Arena at Seattle Center.

We are excited about the integration of ORCA on the Monorail. We expect Monorail will be a critical connection to get light rail riders (including our employees) to the New Arena at Seattle Center.”

 

 

History of the Monorail 

 

 

Did your eyes glaze over at the word history? Wait, give us a chance! Transit history is not like the others…

 

The monorail was thought up in the early 19th century in Russia, and first implemented in London. The first US debut of the monorail was at the happiest place on earth – Disneyworld. Thanks, Walt Disney! Then, the monorail came to our very own city in 1962 for the Seattle World’s Fair.

 

Now, ORCA and the Seattle Center Monorail are teaming up to create the next chapter for this fun and convenient transit option.

 

For general information about the Monorail, see this FAQ (Our personal favorite question: Are dogs allowed on the Monorail? Answer: YES!)

 

 

 

Person carrying a backpack with two dogs inside.

Photo by SDOT.

 

For more information about ORCA implementation on the Monorail, click here.

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The Two-Way Columbia St Transit Pathway is On Its Way!

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RapidRide C Line Bus from West Seattle.

 

We’re working with King County Metro to install a two-way transit pathway on Columbia St between Alaskan Way and 3rd Ave, opening to transit in early 2020. This pathway will support all-day transit service between West Seattle and downtown Seattle by creating an efficient and reliable route for buses to access the new Viaduct-free Alaskan Way in early 2020, relocating these routes from 1st Ave and 4th Ave.

 

These changes are crucial to the next step in opening up the Waterfront for transit use and are the final step of the larger project to reconstruct Columbia St to accommodate two-way transit operation.

 

Here’s what you can expect.

 

Click here to download our Columbia St transit pathway flyer:

Two-Way Columbia Street Transit Improvements

Between 1st Ave and 2nd Ave:

 

Map of Columbia St Transit Pathway changes from 1st Ave to 2nd Ave

 

The southern curb lane will be changed to a 24-hour bus-only lane to allow buses to travel eastbound on Columbia St.

 

The existing left turn only lane will be converted to a left turn plus through lane.

 

A new bus signal will be installed at Columbia St and 2nd Ave to keep the new eastbound buses moving.

 

Between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave:

 

Columbia St Transit Pathway changes from 2nd Ave to 3rd Ave

 

The southern curb lane will be changed to a 24-hour bus-only lane to allow eastbound buses on Columbia St to turn left onto 3rd Ave.

 

The existing westbound through lane adjacent to the new lane will be converted to a left turn plus through lane.

 

A new bus signal will be installed at Columbia St and 3rd Ave to manage the new left turning bus traffic.

 

Which buses will use the Columbia St Transit Pathway?

 

RapidRide C Line in downtown Seattle

 

West Seattle, Burien, and neighboring area buses including the 21x, 37, 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, and the RapidRide C Line will use this new pathway.

 

West Seattle bus riders, we heard you about the extended travel times on 1st Ave through Pioneer Square this summer. Working with King County Metro, we moved southbound buses to 4th Ave S and temporarily moved northbound buses to that pathway while S Dearborn St was closed.

 

Northbound buses will remain on the 1st Ave pathway and southbound buses will remain on 4th Ave S until early 2020, when these buses will move to Alaskan Way and begin using this two-way transit pathway on Columbia St to access 3rd Ave.

 

Keeping buses reliable during the Seattle Squeeze.

 

Ensuring reliable transit in and out of downtown is a priority during the “Seattle Squeeze,” the period over the next five years as Seattle’s downtown continues to change to meet the needs of a growing city. Regional transportation partners including the Seattle Department of Transportation, the Washington State Department of Transportation, King County Metro, Sound Transit, and the Port of Seattle are all working together to keep people and goods moving safely to and through downtown.

 

Want more information?

 

Please contact Jonathan Dong, our Transit Spot Improvement Manager, at jonathan.dong@seattle.gov

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Moving Forward with the Center City Connector Streetcar Project 

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First Hill Streetcar, Yesler Way. Photo by Jeanne Clark.
First Hill Streetcar, Yesler Way. Photo by Jeanne Clark.

 

Over the past year, Seattle Streetcar ridership has increased by 18 percent and we’ve worked to place the Center City Connector Streetcar Project on a more secure financial footing.

 

In August, the Seattle City Council appropriated $9 million so that we could move forward with essential design work to advance the Center City Connector project.

 

With this critical funding, we’re excited to be moving this transit project forward so that millions of people will have the opportunity to use a complete streetcar system providing easy connections between South Lake Union, the waterfront, Pioneer Square, Chinatown-International District, and First Hill.

 

Here are the key next steps moving forward with the streetcar project:

 

 

In April 2017, we entered into a contract with CAF USA to build 10 streetcar vehicles. In March 2018, Mayor Durkan ordered an independent review of the streetcar project budget and we issued a stop-work-order to halt production of these vehicles before they were built, while we worked to ensure the project had strong financial footing.

 

Now that we have a better understanding of the new project timeline, we’re ready to cancel the old streetcar vehicle contract and move forward.

 

Resuming work now under the old vehicle contract could have significantly increased project costs due to our new project timeline.

 

The City has the flexibility to terminate the contract at any time which may save the City considerable money in the long run.

 

First Hill Streetcar up close. Photo by Jeanne Clark.

First Hill Streetcar up close. Photo by Jeanne Clark.

 

Seeking a new vehicle contract is the most fiscally responsible option for Seattle taxpayers and will offer several cost-saving opportunities:

 

  • A new bidding process will give companies a chance to propose plans to build vehicles that are closer to the size and weight of our existing streetcars.
  • A new contract will align with our current streetcar design timeline and eliminate financial risk and uncertainty associated with the old vehicle contract schedule.

 

Today, we informed CAF USA that we’re terminating the old vehicle contract and are preparing to move forward with seeking a new vehicle contract.

 

In the coming months, we’ll be updating the design specifications for streetcar vehicles to take into account the existing vehicle market in the United States and some of our system’s specialized needs. Once this work has been done, we’ll move forward by issuing an updated Request for Proposals for streetcar procurement.

 

We’ll also be moving forward with the essential engineering and facilities design work with the resources approved by City Council last month.

 

This work will help inform the new vehicle procurement and include a variety of necessary steps that align with the potential vehicle design specifications, such as making sure the streetcar platforms, maintenance facility, and roadway structures are ready for the new streetcars because many of the streetcar vehicles currently being manufactured are longer and heavier than our current streetcars.

 

Passengers preparing to on-board the South Lake Union Streetcar.

Passengers preparing to on-board the South Lake Union Streetcar. Photo by SDOT.

 

We’re preparing to search for a consultant to help complete this facilities engineering work and will release a request for qualifications for engineering consultants in the coming weeks.

 

Moving forward with engineering work will reduce risk and ensure we’ll be ready to comprehensively and responsibly deliver the entirety of the Center City Connector.

 

The additional design work will also be essential to help secure the funds prioritized for this project from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

 

Actions we’ll be taking over the next several months will help establish that we have a solid and dependable plan to finish building the streetcar and set us up for FTA’s approval of these federal funds.

 

 

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September 12: S Dearborn St Closes for Viaduct Demolition

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Photo courtesy of WSDOT. The two remaining sections of viaduct (in orange) at S Dearborn St may not look big, but removing them is complex work due to the many underground utilities that criss-cross the area.

Photo courtesy of WSDOT. The two remaining sections of viaduct (in orange) at S Dearborn St may not look big, but removing them is complex work due to the many underground utilities that criss-cross the area.

 

WSDOT crews will close S Dearborn St and narrow 1st Ave S to two lanes beginning Thursday, September 12 in order to remove the remaining section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. S Dearborn St will be closed for up to 10 days while crews remove the viaduct overhead. Plan ahead and prepare for impacts to travel during this period of the #SeattleSqueeze.

 

It’s time to make a plan and prepare for new routes if you’re driving or taking transit.

 

RapidRideC Bus

 

This closure will cause unavoidable disruptions to traffic. If you are traveling to and from SR 99 and points south and west of downtown, consider alternate routes or ways of getting around, including exiting SR 99 at Spokane Street, using transit or taking the King County Water Taxi.

 

Some King County Metro buses will reroute while South Dearborn Street is closed.

 

The contractor will pull their work zone back from Alaskan Way to open the full four lanes for people driving during this closure.

 

What’s next for the Seattle Squeeze?

 

Photo courtesy of WSDOT. North end viaduct demolition progress.

Photo courtesy of WSDOT. North end viaduct demolition progress.

 

This month will also bring demolition to the section of viaduct around Marion St and changes for passengers arriving at Colman Dock. This construction is just one component of the #SeattleSqueeze as large public and private construction projects continue to impact how we get around. This will all be worth it.

 

We’re continuing to work closely with our partners at WSDOT, King County Metro, Sound Transit, and the Port of Seattle to keep people and goods moving safely through the Seattle Squeeze. Plan ahead and learn more at www.seattle.gov/traffic.

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Relief is coming for 1st Ave S buses to West Seattle.

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RapidRideC Bus

We’re nearly 9 months into the #SeattleSqueeze & getting around parts of Seattle continues to be a real challenge.

 

West Seattle and Pioneer Square have both taken the brunt of construction-related traffic impacts this past year, and so people who rely on buses traveling through both of these neighborhoods via 1st Ave S have felt an especially large burden of long and unreliable commutes.

 

While there’s no silver bullet to end congestion entirely, there’s some relief coming for these bus riders as we’ve been working closely with King County Metro to reroute these southbound buses to 4th Ave S for the next few months until waterfront construction allows them to shift to a better, permanent route along Alaskan Way in early 2020.  

 

The reroute will take effect on Sept. 9 for  southbound bus routes: 21X, 37, 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, & RapidRide C Line.  

 

Map of new route. A new southbound stop will open at 2nd Ave Ext S and S Washington St.

New bus routes through Pioneer Square and SoDo.

 

Southbound buses will use 2nd Ave to get through Pioneer Square then shift to 4th Ave S to get past the stadiums.  

 

Northbound buses will remain on 1st Ave except for a short-term reroute to 4th Ave from September 12-21 due to Washington State Department of Transportation viaduct demolition which will temporarily close the Dearborn St off-ramps from State Route 99.  

 

See more details and maps on King County Metro’s blog. 

 

We worked closely with Metro to identify a solution to improve transit reliability on 1st Ave S, but ultimately this route posed too many operational challenges.  

 

One option that we considered was creating a transit-only lane on 1st Ave; however, even if we removed parking on 1st Ave, buses couldn’t safely drive in the right lane because there are hollow underground areaways beneath the sidewalk which can’t support the weight of buses. Creating a transit lane in the left lane wouldn’t have solved the problem either because buses would’ve had to continually merge in and out of this transit lane in order to reach bus stops.   

 

Another option which we tried was optimizing 1st Ave traffic signals for transit. On August 12, we reprogrammed traffic signals to aid transit movements, which improved bus reliability and reduced transit delays. However, even with reduced delays, other challenges like large stadium events, construction, and ferry traffic meant 1st Ave is not as effective as using 4th Ave.

  

We’re working with Metro to make several changes to make this new 4th Ave route as efficient & reliable as possible. 

 

We’ll be modifying the traffic signal at Second Ave and Columbia St to create a bus-only phase that allows buses to make a left-turn from the existing transit lane on Columbia St.

 

We also recently painted northbound 4th Ave transit lanes red between Royal Brougham Way and Jackson St. This will help improve reliability for these buses during the temporary northbound reroute in September, and for many other buses which take this route into downtown every day. 

 

The 1st Ave route was never a long-term plan for buses, and we’re supportive of Metro’s decision to shift southbound buses to 4th Ave as a more reliable short-term solution until the new two-way Columbia St transit pathway is completed in early 2020.

 

This pathway will be located where the southbound viaduct entrance used to be and will offer a new and improved connection to Alaskan Way. Once this pathway is open, these buses will be able to travel south along the waterfront on a route which solves many of the problems affecting 1st Ave S and 4th Ave S.  

 

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August 12: 5th Ave NE Closure for Link Light Rail Construction

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Link light rail construction at Northgate in 2017.

Link light rail construction at Northgate in 2017.

 

If you’re traveling through North Seattle, prepare for a long-term closure of 5th Ave NE between NE 130th St and NE 145th St! This closure is to provide space for crews to build the elevated guideway for the Lynnwood Link light rail extension.

 

Here’s what you can expect:

 

SCHEDULE

 

5th Ave NE will be closed starting August 12. The closure duration is three years and will reopen fall of 2022.

 

Crews will perform work between 7 AM and 6 PM Monday through Friday.  Nights and weekend work will occur if necessary.

 

CLOSURE | DETOUR

 

5th Ave NE will be closed between NE 130th St and NE 145th St. In addition, the southbound lanes of 5th Ave NE from NE 130th St – NE 125th St will be closed.

 

Local access between NE 130th Street and the south end of the Jackson Park Golf Course will be maintained, and the I-5 off-ramps will remain open. In addition, the existing pedestrian path along 5th Ave NE will remain open.

 

 

 

PROJECT OUTCOME

 

Sound Transit crews are beginning construction for the Lynnwood Link light rail project. Lynnwood Link light rail will open in 2024 after the Northgate extension opens in 2021.

 

Want more information?

link light rail

 

Visit Sound Transit’s website to learn more about the project. For the latest traffic information, follow us on Twitter at @SDOTTraffic.

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What’s moving Seattle this week? Aug 7- Aug 11

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View of the Seattle Skyline including Mount Rainier

Photo Credit: Timothy Eberly @unsplash

There is so much happening this weekend. Street festivals keep coming, baseball is going strong and… it’s Seahawk pre-season already! Calling out to all the 12’s,  plan accordingly, be safe and get your blue and green ready!

 

W E D. A U G 7

 

Seattle Mariners vs. San Diego Padres: T-Mobile Park.  First Pitch: 3:40 PM.  Estimated attendance: 30k.

 

T H U R. A U G 8

 

Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos: CenturyLink Field.  Kickoff: 7 PM.  Estimated attendance: 55k.

 

F R I. A U G 9

 

South Lake Union Block Party: SLU Discovery Center.  12 – 11PM.  Estimated attendance: 3k.

 

Seattle Mariners vs. Tampa Bay Rays: T-Mobile Park.  First Pitch: 7:10 PM.  Estimated attendance: 39k.

 

S A T. A U G 10

 

Obliteride: 5K run/walk and 25-, 50-, and 100-mile rides to benefit Fred Hutch.  All participants start in waves between 6 – 10:30 AM at the University of Washington’s E-1 lot and finish at Gas Works Park. 5K walk will follow the last wave at 10 AM.  Riders and walkers finish at Gas Works Park.  Estimated attendance: 3k.

 

South Lake Union Saturday Market: Weekly Market closes 9th Ave. N. between Denny Way and John St.  Market hours are 11 AM – 4 PM.  Estimated attendance: 2.5k.

 

Seattle Sounders vs. New England Revolution: CenturyLink Field.  Kickoff: 1 PM.  Estimated attendance: 35k.

 

Seattle Mariners vs. Tampa Bay Rays: T-Mobile Park.  First Pitch: 7:10 PM.  Estimated attendance: 46k.

 

S U N. A U G 11

 

Lake Union 10K: 11th Anniversary Lake Union 10K run or walk along the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop Trail.  The race starts and finishes in Lake Union Park, with the course running clockwise around the lake.  Event hours: 7:30 – 11 AM.  Estimated attendance: 1.8k.

 

Magnolia Village Car Show: On W. McGraw St. between 32nd and 34th Ave. W.  Show hours: 8 AM – 3:30 PM.  Estimated attendance: 800.

 

Dog Days of Summer 5K: is a benefit for and provides much-needed support to the Emerald City Pet Rescue. At Magnuson Park.  Event hours: 9:30 – 11 AM.  Estimated attendance: 400.

 

Othello International Festival: Annual community festival at Othello Park (4351 S. Othello Street).  Festival hours: 12 – 6PM.  Estimated attendance: 2k.

 

Seattle Mariners vs. Tampa Bay Rays: T-Mobile Park.  First Pitch: 1:10 PM.  Estimated attendance: 30k.

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Seattle Streetcar Reports 18-percent Ridership Increase!

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Seattle Streetcar, in Capitol Hill Neighborhood

Seattle Streetcar, Capitol Hill Neighborhood

 

The Seattle Streetcar Program remains committed to continued safety and reliability plus additional data collection.

 

Providing easy access to Metro transit routes, Link light rail, and the Sounder is paying off for the Seattle Streetcar program and its 1.7 million annual riders. In 2018, our Seattle Streetcar program saw an 18-percent ridership increase, which includes a 31-percent increase on the First Hill line.

 

Streetcar performance + citywide public transit enhancements = MORE transportation options for South Lake Union

While South Lake Union (SLU) ridership has remained consistent over the past three years with a slight four-percent decrease in 2018, we are pleased with overall ridership levels in the area. The Seattle Streetcar program sees the small decline as a direct reflection of the City’s successful efforts to increase city-wide transit service and multi-modal options and the availability of these opportunities to SLU riders.

 

Moving forward . . .  Seattle Streetcar program seeks appropriations to advance Center City Connector


And speaking of more transit options, we are requesting a $9-million appropriation to perform essential engineering and design work for the Center City Connector project.

 

After Mayor Jenny Durkan issued a robust, independent review of the project in 2018 and revised the capital and operating cost estimates, which placed the project on better financial footing, we are now prepared to move forward with necessary projects activities including everything from platform and maintenance facility modifications, to roadway structure analysis, and essential design work.

 

All aboard! Next stop: accountability+ strong streetcar management = brand-new transit line


Today, we thrive under strong new leadership and a solid streetcar team committed to sound fiscal program management. We are fully committed to building a system that works financially and programmatically. Program staff is also looking at ways to expand its data collection to better understand ridership trends and demographics and strengthen operations.

 

Streetcar Center City Connector Line

Streetcar Center City Connector Line

 

In case you didn’t know, the Center City Connector is designed to add a critical link in the Seattle Streetcar network, proving millions of residents and visitors with easy access to dozens of popular local destinations between the First Hill and South Lake Union lines. It also links transit riders to regional bus routes, ferries at Colman Dock, and the continued expansion of the regional Link Light Rail network.

 

 

Center City Connector Stations

Center City Connector Stations

 

In addition, the project will build on the City’s investments in providing affordable transit opportunities through ORCA Lift, ORCA Opportunity and ORCA Youth to thousands of downtown households who need affordable transit options most.

 

Thank you Seattleites, Streetcar Supporters, Seattle City Council, and the Sustainability and Transportation Committee

Tuesday, July 30, SDOT Director Sam Zimbabwe, Seattle Streetcar Manager Chris Eilerman and Center City Connector Project Manager Eric Tweit  will meet with the Sustainability and Transportation Committee to give a streetcar operation report on the existing streetcar lines, plus request the $9 million appropriation to move forward with essential work to advance the Center City Connector project.

Our leadership and the streetcar team are incredibly grateful for the time, energy and patience Seattle, the Streetcar Coalition and the Council has afforded the Department over the last year as it worked through an organizational re-alignment and adjustments to position the C3 project for success. With new leadership and dedicated program and project teams, we are confident it can responsibly deliver the Center City Connector project.  Seattle residents, businesses, and visitors deserve the best. And we are committed to giving its best in service to all.

 

Learn more about the Seattle Streetcar Program.

 

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4th Avenue Transit Improvements

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Improved road markings.

 

Our crews made improvements on 4th Avenue between Union Street and Pike Street last week. This was part of an an effort in partnership with King County Metro to reduce delays for buses. In addition, the markings give drivers more advance warning about the upcoming bus lane north of Pike Street.

For more information contact Jonathan Dong.

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