The Seattle Streetcar Update

Anyone who has been sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic this last couple of weekends may have noticed an interesting change in the Fairview/Valley intersection.

Train tracks.

This is the first installment of the new Seattle Streetcar system scheduled to begin operations in late 07. The construction taking place on the southern tip of Lake Union is the meat and potatoes of the project; the main streetcar station will be located on the southeast corner of Valley and Westlake, including the main power terminals that will drive the modern trolley back and forth from the city core all the way to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

The purpose of the Streetcar is to open up the city towards the South Lake Union District, helping create a new neighborhood, that by 2010 will be a flourishing next door neighbor to Queen Anne, Capitol Hill and Belltown. We have already seen the Whole Foods getting ready to open in November, as well as new restaurants and boutiques springing up throughout the district.

Vulcan, who is developing several mixed used residential and commercial properties in the South Lake Union area, has contributed a considerable amount of research and funding for the project. Other business owners along Westlake have also contributed funding towards the streetcar.