Keeping the Waterfront Streetcar rolling
A message from Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond
 A great deal of attention has been paid in recent weeks to what Metro Transit is doing to keep the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar on track while the Seattle Art Museum proceeds with plans to construct a sculpture park.
SAM’s plan to build the Olympic Sculpture Park is an exciting one with great benefits to the city of Seattle. Current plans call for an eight and one-half acre park on the very edge of Elliott Bay between Myrtle Edwards Park and Pier 70. But in order to move forward with the project, some significant changes will need to occur.
In 2003, when it became clear that the park would move forward, we learned it would be necessary to relocate the maintenance building that is key to keeping our vintage Australian waterfront streetcars cared for, operational, and rolling seven days a week. The George Benson Waterfront Streetcar is a Seattle icon, a rich part of the downtown landscape that is also an important element of Metro’s downtown transit service. Each year, the streetcars provide more than 400,000 rides. And, just about everyone loves them, including Metro.
 As our employees know, the streetcar has not only been a dependable workhorse delivering visitors and commuters to their waterfront destinations day in and day out, but it has also been a labor of love. From the craftsmen who carefully maintain and restore the vintage cars, the employees who have renovated the stations, to the operators and conductors who have become downtown attractions in their own right – so many Metro employees, at one time or another, have had a hand in the success of the streetcar. Equally important, operating the streetcar has allowed Metro to play a part in helping to define the very essence of the Seattle waterfront and downtown neighborhoods – a stewardship role we have taken very seriously.
So, when we learned the streetcar maintenance building would have to be moved by mid-2005 to accommodate the sculpture garden, we knew we needed to move fast in putting together a plan to fully assess our options. We also knew we had our work cut out for us, given the accelerated planning taking shape to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
Despite an excruciatingly short timeframe, our Design and Construction group began to study viable sites. We identified four overarching goals to guide our search: the location would need to address both short and long-term streetcar service, including opportunities for expansion; we would need to ensure that all necessary maintenance for the vintage vehicles would continue; would need to represent a good investment for taxpayers; and would present the shortest disruption of service.
Over the next several months, we looked at every option we could find that would allow us to relocate the maintenance building quickly and cost effectively. And because location is so critical to the future operation of the streetcars, we looked at sites outside the shadow of the viaduct.
We looked at moving the maintenance building to a Metro bus base just south of the downtown area. But that option raised neighborhood concerns. Relocating to Pioneer Square or under I-5 was also considered. But those options were equally problematic and in many cases potentially even more costly. In all, we examined four broad options, each presenting several site-specific alternatives.
Unfortunately, the neighborhoods we served have also been in a quandary; torn between wanting to protect current streetcar service, the desire for extended service and other competing community interests.
As we enter the final phase of our search, we do so with continued determination. We have talked with and heard from downtown stakeholders and the broader community in recent days, and what we have received is an unexpected yet overwhelming and heartfelt validation for the streetcar. All sorts of people have been weighing in and they are telling us they love the streetcar and don’t want it to go away, even for a while.
Well, we love the streetcars too and the last thing we want is for them to go away. We are not giving up, and continue to look for a good relocation site.
So, stay tuned, keep your fingers crossed and know we at Metro are committed as ever to finding solutions. George Benson would appreciate that.
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