Streetcar

Urbanism-focused Youtuber Fourth Place delved into Portland's streetcar extension planned to its Montgomery Park neighborhood, just northwest of its existing streetcar loop.

With right turns set to be prohibited from Westlake Avenue onto Denny Way, streetcar vehicles and buses will no longer be stuck behind turning car traffic. The change will also benefit the high numbers of pedestrians who use this major intersection.

Restoring transit routes to First Avenue, after they were removed in 2011 to make way for the demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, is a needed step in downtown mobility as the neighborhood enters a new era.

A proposed 75-cent streetcar fare increase could bring in $100,000 to $200,000 in additional revenue per year. However, without an extension to connect Seattle’s two short lines, the streetcar system faces a bleak future and the need for millions in annual City support.

The Seattle City Council again voted against completing the Center City Streetcar. But it remains a prudent investment, vastly improving the Seattle Streetcar network and First Avenue walkability.

By a 5-3 vote last week, the Seattle City Council said it wasn't ready to plan for the decommissioning of the South Lake Union Streetcar. But unifying the city's two streetcar lines into one system seems less likely than ever before.

A proposal to be considered this week at the Seattle City Council's budget committee asks for a plan to wind down service on the South Lake Union Streetcar, which has operated since 2007.

The South Lake Union Streetcar has been out of operation since August 9 due to electrical issues, and there is more trouble down the line.