Seattle's First Hill Streetcar 'Soft Opened' on Saturday

"Seattle’s long-awaited First Hill Streetcar, proposed a decade ago, will finally carry passengers Saturday in a casual 'soft launch' featuring free rides," reports Mike Lindblom. "A grand-opening ceremony, to include performances and neighborhood festivals, will be announced later."

Lindblom details the planning case made for the long-delayed First Hill line, including ongoing questions "about whether Sound Transit compromised its state mandate to supply 'high capacity transit,' which runs chiefly in its own right of way." The First Hill line will travel in mixed traffic with cars, with an 18-minute travel time from end to end. According to Lindblom, "Agency leaders have replied that the streetcar will support its huge light-rail system by feeding passengers to two stations. The line connects the future Capitol Hill light-rail station to the International District/Chinatown Station, passing through Broadway, South Jackson Street and reaching Pioneer Square."

The article includes a lot more about the many question marks that led to this weekend's soft opening, and the many questions that still remain to be answered in the early weeks of the system's operations.

In a separate article, Gordon Werner reports on the announcement of the soft opening and provides operating hours and frequencies.