Transit Choices in Puget Sound – Riding the Seattle Streetcar

The Seattle streetcar

A series of articles by Brian Doennebrink on Public Transit Choices

Riding the Seattle Streetcar

By Brian Doennebrink

Seattle’s streetcar history traces back to 1884, when a horse-­drawn trolley began service. The latest iteration, the Seattle Streetcar, opened in 2007, a little over a year after ground was broken and two years after the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar line ceased service.

The present streetcar has one line

The present streetcar has one line that is 2.6 miles long and travels between South Lake Union and Westlake, running every 15-minutes from 6:00am to 9:00pm Monday through Thursday, 6:00am to 11:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10:00am to 7:00pm on Sundays and holidays.

There is presently service at 10-­minute intervals on weekdays from 3-­6pm that is a demonstration program mostly funded by Amazon.com.

Fares on the Seattle Streetcar are $2.50 for adults, $1.25 for youths from 6-­17 (a narrower definition than the other transit choices we’ve looked at), and $0.75 for those 65 and over, persons with disabilities, and persons with Medicare cards. Individual ride tickets may be purchased at the station platforms or on board, while ORCA cards and Metro transfers are accepted as proof of payment. Eventually, ORCA card readers will be installed on the streetcars. One can also purchase an all-­day pass for $5.00 each.

Potential expansion to Aloha Street

A second streetcar line began construction in April 2012, that will run between Pioneer Square and  Capitol Hill. According to their website, it is anticipated to be substantially complete in early 2014. The city is also looking at other lines, ones between Westlake and Ballard, Westlake and the University District, and Interbay to east-­central Seattle. 

King County Metro operates the Seattle Streetcar.

In September 2012, it was announced that a federally-­funded study will examine extending the South Lake Union streetcar line along 4th and 5th Avenues to the International district.