Seattle Exploring News Ways to Give Traffic Priority to Streetcars

Short of running the First Hill Streetcar on it's own dedicated right of way, the Seattle Department of Transportation has a few ideas for how to speed up service.

1 minute read

February 23, 2018, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Capitol Hill, Seattle

SounderBruce / Flickr

Stephen Fesler reports on potential changes to street configuration that will improve performance of the First Hill Streetcar in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is considering "new business access and transit (BAT) lanes on Broadway between Pine Street and Madison Street in the southbound direction" as well as new turn restrictions at various intersections along the road.

If you're noticing a similarity in the plan to the work on King Street in Toronto, you are not mistaken, though differences between the King Street streetcar success story and the plan under consideration in Seattle remain. Fesler details the differences in the source article.

Thursday, February 22, 2018 in The Urbanist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

June 16 - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16 - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

June 16 - UNM News