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City Council Reaffirms Support For More Streetcars

Posted: 7:30 am PST December 8, 2008Updated: 5:06 pm PST December 8, 2008

The Seattle City Council continued to voice their support for adding more streetcars to create a network of streetcar lines in city districts.

In Monday’s meeting, the council passed a resolution that solidifies a network map and streetcar vision, but they did not approve spending any money to build the tracks and add the cars.

Voters approved adding a streetcar line on Seattle’s First Hill in November.

VIDEO: More Streetcar Lines Coming To Seattle?

The City Council's transportation committee is recommending that more tracks like the ones that carry the South Lake Union Streetcar be laid down to service people living in other parts of town, then link all the lines together.

The idea is to add four more lines, including one stretching to Ballard and one to the University District. Another line would connect the International District to Capitol Hill along Broadway, and a fourth line would go along the waterfront.

They system could cost as much as $600 million, but the city doesn't yet have that money or a plan to raise it.

The council will vote whether to move forward with the plan. It will also consider an opposing resolution offered by Councilman Nick Licata.

Licata said there isn't enough information about the interest, the cost or the overall support for an expanded streetcar network.

By Friday, the South Lake Union Streetcar's one-year anniversary, about 500,000 will have taken a ride -- 150,000 more than the city expected.

The City Council’s adopted streetcar network map can be viewed at www.seattlestreetcar.org .

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