Streetcar extension survey: The City of Seattle continues to collect community feedback on the proposed Broadway extension of the First Hill streetcar. You can take the survey here.

The two main questions the questionnaire tackles: 1) Which proposed terminus do respondents prefer? and 2) What are your priorities in the street layout for the future Broadway north of Denny? Nope, no questions about a possible local improvement district required to help pay for construction of the extension.

Make sure to weigh in on the survey above. The PDF documents outlining the various option are below. We’re also curious to know what the CHS population is thinking. So, sorry SDOT, we’re also asking two of your questions here on CHS.

Extension PDFs

Here is what SDOT had to say about feedback received at the extension open house:

The comments collected from the public were diverse, however, several topics emerged: Extension Design Option #1 Favored: Respondents favored Option #1 for the design of the Broadway Streetcar Extension, noting that it maintained street parking while also giving bicyclists access to Broadway. Impacts of Route Alternatives: Opinions varied on the most appealing route alternative, but there was nearly universal agreement on the need for further research into the traffic impacts of each of the three options presented at the open house.

Opinions varied on the most appealing route alternative, but there was nearly universal agreement on the need for further research into the traffic impacts of each of the three options presented at the open house. Lack of Importance Regarding Left Turns: Attendees rated left turns less vital a consideration than most of the other issues brought to their attention.

Attendees rated left turns less vital a consideration than most of the other issues brought to their attention. Longer Extension More Appealing: An overwhelming majority of respondents noted their preference for the Broadway Extension to terminate at Prospect Street. Several stated that they would like the Extension to go even further than Prospect Street.

An overwhelming majority of respondents noted their preference for the Broadway Extension to terminate at Prospect Street. Several stated that they would like the Extension to go even further than Prospect Street. Importance of Bicycle Safety: A significant number of respondents noted the importance of bicycle safety. It was noted repeatedly on comment cards, and the survey respondents marked it as one of the more important aspects of streetcar design.

Tour the tunnel: While we’ve been focused on what will happen above ground at the site of Capitol Hill station, lucky KIRO toured the light rail tunnel connecting Broadway to downtown:

520 light rail: CHS has reported on the “overwhelming community support” for redesigning the western components of the 520 replacement project with pedestrian and bike friendly elements. Sound Transit will study the prospects for adding light rail to the bridge:

The hard part is getting the trains between the floating bridge and UW Station. A tunnel would have to transition through water — not an easy nor inexpensive proposition. An above ground solution would have to bridge over the Montlake Cut only to arrive at UW on the surface, leaving no good options to go from there. So then, how to tunnelthrough and then under Union Bay?