1950

• Last run of the Madison Park - Kirkland auto ferry.

Madison Park circa 1950.
Photo by Ira Swett courtesy of the Mike Voris Collection.

1951

• Washington state establishes its ferry system.
• Seattle City Light buys out remaining Puget Power services inside city limits.

1952

• The idea of building a modern rapid transit system plays a major role in the battle to establish a new county charter. The plan is denounced as "communistic" and rejected by a 2-1 vote. on November 5.

1953

• Alaskan Way viaduct opens.
• State Highway Department rejects Seattle Transit proposal for rail transit in new Central Seattle Freeway (future Interstate-5).
• Lake Shore Lines extends service to North Bend.

Alaskan Way Viaduct, 1950s. Postcard.

1954

• Puget Sound Regional Planning Council established as advisory body.
• ATU strike shuts down Seattle Transit for two weeks in November.

1956

• Seattle Transit Commission appeals to the State Highway Commission to include transit right-of-ways in the design of Interstate 5. The request is rejected as too expensive due to an estimated $16 million price tag.

1958

• Voters reject first proposal to create a Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro) on March 11, but approve a scaled-down plan to clean up water pollution on September 9.
• Puget Sound Governmental Council established.
• Metro Council holds its first meeting in October.

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