Dept. of Transportation
Metro Transit Division

King Street Center
201 S Jackson St
Seattle, WA 98104
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Milestones 1950s

1950

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

Photo of Madison Park circa 1950
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.

Photo of Alaskan Way Viaduct, 1950s
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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Updated: Dec. 11, 2002