A visualization of plans at Broadway and Marion streets in Seattle as part of their First Hill Streetcar project that breaks ground this month.

(Graphics: Alta Planning + Design and Fat Pencil Studio)



Here in Portland, we’ve had lots of hand-wringing about the impact the streetcar is having on bikeways. Hundreds (if not thousands) of people (including my mom!) have crashed on the tracks while bicycling and just yesterday, we reported on a lawsuit where the City of Seattle admitted their streetcar track designs are dangerous.

While the currently under construction Eastside Streetcar Loop has had a significant negative impact on the bikeway environment here in Portland and I’ve heard from numerous insiders that opportunities for cycle tracks alongside the new streetcar route have been missed, it looks like our friends up in Seattle have taken things up a notch. I came across design drawings for their First Hill Streetcar project (set to break ground this month) this morning and they left me quite envious.

The drawings make it clear that bike usage was not just something to be considered or accommodated, but a major priority in the overall street design. The result is a lot of dedicated, physically separated space for bikes. What’s also noteworthy about these plans is that they were conceived and illustrated by two Portland-based firms: Alta Planning + Design and Fat Pencil Studio.

Check out more of the drawings below…

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Another look at Broadway and Marion…

Broadway and E Pine before…

Broadway and E Pine after…

Terrace Plaza…

Broadway & Denny…

Yesler Way & Broadway…

And they’re incorporating public art into the bollards being used to separate the bikeway…

The bad news is that it’s too late to make our Eastside Loop look more like this (except for some sections on NE 7th through the Lloyd District where we have some space that could be converted to a cycle track); but the good news is that streetcar/bikeway integration practices seem to be improving.











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