The South Jackson Streetcar

South Jackson Street is the major arterial linking Pioneer Square and the Stadium Area, Chinatown, Japantown, Little Saigon - International District, Jackson Place and the Central District (west to east). Jackson Street also links two of Seattle's major bodies of water, Lake Washington and Puget Sound, and provides access to the King Street Transit Hub.

Historically a streetcar ran on South Jackson Street. The route was established in 1887, connecting Pioneer Square to Leschi Park via Yesler Way and Jackson Street. The line linked the Elliott Bay steamers with the Lake Washington Ferries, creating an early intermodal transportation system. By 1941, the streetcar system was disbanded.

During the development of the Seattle Streetcar Network and Feasibility Analysis Report (June 2004), the extension of the waterfront streetcar line along South Jackson Street was identified as a promising corridor for future streetcar service.

Several benefits of extending the Waterfront Streetcar along the Jackson corridor that were identified were that a streetcar line would:

• Improve mobility. Provide residents, commuters and visitors improved local transit service through the dense, mixed-use communities along the corridor.
• Improve connections. Link neighborhoods to the regional transit system at the International District and King Street stations, as well as Colman Dock.
• Encourage economic development. Help to attract local residence and tourists to these unique and historic Seattle tourist and entertainment destinations.
• Provide critical link into and out of south downtown & waterfront during Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall construction.

Alternatives Considered

The Seattle Streetcar Network South Jackson Street Corridor Report considered two phases of South Jackson Streetcar extension.

• First phase - Streetcar line from Occidental Park/1st Avenue S. and S. Main Street to the existing terminus at 5th Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street and then form a couplet between S. King and S. Jackson Streets to either 8th or 10th Avenue S.
• Second phase - Extending the Jackson Streetcar from the initial operating segment to 23rd Avenue S. along S. Jackson Street.

During the course of the study several alignments were considered. These include: Phase #1

• A couplet on S. Jackson Street and S. King Street, transitioning to double track on S. Jackson Street at either 8th or 10th Avenue S., then continuing with both tracks on S. Jackson Street to 23rd Avenue S.
• Double-track on S. King Street, turning at either 8th or 10th Avenue S., then double-track on S. Jackson Street to 23rd Avenue S.

Phase #2

• Double-track S. Jackson Street to 23rd Avenue S.

View the South Jackson Streetcar Extension Executive Summary

View the South Jackson Streetcar Extension Full Report