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Center City Connector
Transit Study
Join us at our next open house!
Thurs, June 6, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
@ South Lake Union Discovery Center
101 Westlake Ave N (corner of Westlake & Denny)
Agenda includes a brief presentation at 6pm
Come learn about different options for connecting the South Lake Union and First Hill streetcars through downtown. We’ll present alternatives for 1st Ave and a 4th/5th Ave couplet. You’ll see multiple options for how a streetcar could run on each street (in shared traffic or its own lane), and have an opportunity to share feedback, ask questions, and learn more about the project.
Can’t make it on June 6? Don’t fret. We’ll get all the materials online and would love to hear from you. Click here for a PDF invite and help us spread the word. |
Project updates
Thanks to everyone who turned out for our first open house on February 6. Over 100 people attended! Check out all materials from the meeting, as well as a summary of public comments, here.
Since the open house, we have been working on evaluating different transit mode and street options (based on feedback we got from open house attendees, and from broader stakeholders and staff).
Check out the results of the initial screening and learn more about the evaluation process. The next level of evaluation (Tier 1) is underway and will be complete in time for the June 6 open house.
Background and Overview
 The Transit Master Plan prioritized four corridors with the highest ridership potential and the greatest need for higher capacity transit service, including the Center City Connector.
The goal of the Center City Connector project is to improve north-south transit mobility and link the First Hill and South Lake Union streetcars through downtown.
With $900,000 from the Federal Transit Administration and $300,000 in local funding, the City is moving forward on a transit study that will look at different street alignment and technology mode (bus, rail) options. The Transit Master Plan identified two potential alignment options – click on the map for details. We will be asking the public for more ideas on a broad range of options.
The outcome of the study will be the selection of a locally preferred alternative (LPA) that has stakeholder support and is backed by a viable financial and implementation plan. This will position the city well for future funding opportunities that will help us design a build a project.
Milestones and Schedule
The table below outlines the project’s key milestones and basic schedule:
| January 2013 |
Develop project goals and objectives, and evaluation criteria |
February |
Define alternatives at conceptual level |
April |
Complete Tier 1 screening |
August |
Complete Tier 2 screening |
November |
Identify locally preferred alternative |
January 2014 |
Develop implementation and finance plans |
February |
Final Report |
What’s an Alternatives Analysis?
The Alternatives Analysis (AA) will determine the best mode (i.e. streetcar, bus rapid transit, etc), estimated ridership, possible route and stops, and projected costs to build, operate, and maintain a connector in the Center City. The study will help address issues of congestion, economic development, and environmental and social impacts.
SDOT will engage the public throughout the project. At the end of the study, a locally preferred alternative will be identified that best meets the goals and objectives for the corridor.
Completing the AA will provide us with a clear plan moving forward, which will put the City in a strong position to secure federal funding and leverage local partnerships down the road.
Key tasks include:
- Develop goals, objectives, and evaluation criteria
- Analyze existing conditions
- Define alternatives at a conceptual level
- Develop operating plans, ridership forecasts, and capital, operating, and maintenance cost estimates
- Evaluate environmental impacts
- Develop economic development projections
- Develop a locally preferred alternative
How can I get involved?
We will engage the public throughout the project through open house meetings, stakeholder interviews, and online tools.
You can get key staff contact info in our Get Involved section. Even if you can’t join us in-person, you can stay informed – we’ll post presentations and documents in our Meetings & Materials section. We welcome and encourage your questions and ideas.
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