Seattle First Hill Streetcar Groundbreaking ceremony Options

[Lightning]

Long awaited groundbreaking ceremony for the First Hill line will be held on April 23 at 12:15 PM at the corner of Boylston Avenue and Broadway. Construction to take two [full] years, which is longer than I believe was first planned. Better late than never. Will be a great addition to the fledgling streetcar network.

[EvergreenRailfan]

One interesting aspect of this one, is how they are going to minimize conflicts between the streetcar and trolleybus wires, like the ones that originally happened with the SLU line, where it crossed the Stewart St(and the wire for the 49 and 70 Trolleybus routes). Jackson Street is only going to be wired one way, and they will use off-wire capabilities for propulsion. Jackson Street currently carries the 7, 14, and 36 Trolleybus routes and along with Broadway, is the route the First Hill/Capitol Hill trolleybus routes take to deadhead to their starting points in the morning. and back to Atlantic Base in the evening.

Seattle Times

Trains will begin service in early 2014, a slip from the late 2013 date the city earlier published. Design features include bicycle lanes separates from cars, and small landscaped plazas at each station. The railcars, to be built in Seattle by Pacifica Marine, will contain onboard batteries and regenerative braking – in essence allowing southbound trips, mostly downhill, without overhead power lines to conflict with Metro’s popular electric trolleybuses. A project open house is Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Silver Cloud Inn, near the corner of Broadway and

This post has been edited by EvergreenRailfan: Apr 17 2012, 12:48 AM