South Lake Union Streetcar
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South Lake Union Streetcar is a 1.3-mile streetcar line connecting South Lake Union, Seattle, Washington and Downtown Seattle. Construction on the line began in summer 2006 and is expected to be completed in Fall 2007.
Originally envisioned by Microsoft founder, Paul Allen, to help improve the South Lake Union neighborhood that his venture capital company, Vulcan Inc., was heavily invested in.[1] Allen's main supporter from the beginning was Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols, but was not universally supported by the city council, which were concerned about the lack of public support for the line and questioned if it should be moved ahead of Seattle's other transportation needs.[2]
After heavy lobbying by South Lake Union businesses, including Vulcan, the Seattle City Council agreed to develop the neighborhood into a biotechnology and bio-medical research center, included in that plan was funding to investigate a 2.6-mile US$45 million streetcar line.
The line was approved in 2005 at a cost of $50.5 million, with $25 million paid by property owners along the streetcar's route and the remainder paid by federal, state, and local funds.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Todd Bishop. "Allen envisions streetcars serving South Lake Union", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2002-06-14. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ Neil Modie. "Lake Union streetcar plan has council skeptics", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2003-01-25. Retrieved on 2007-03-05.
- ^ Kathy Mulady. "South Lake Union streetcar cost shocks neighbors", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2005-10-05. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
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