Metro makes plans to link trolley system to light rail line

In the next few years, two centuries of transit technology will connect in the Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill, when Metro’s electric trolleys begin serving the Link light rail stations now under construction.

For more than 60 years, trolleys traveling on electric wires have been the backbone of transit service within many city of Seattle neighborhoods. The electric trolleys are clean, quiet, and efficient, yet they also have enough muscle to climb the city's steep hills.

Now, King County Metro Transit is planning to extend the trolley overhead wire network in Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill. These proposed extensions will allow trolleys from Southeast Seattle neighborhoods to travel to passenger stations being built along Sound Transit’s Link light rail line.

Trolley-light rail connections are planned for two Link stations: Mount Baker/McClellan Street Station via Metro Route 14; and the Othello Street Station via Metro Route 36. A third connection to the Rainier Beach/Henderson Street Station via Metro Route 7 may also be considered.

The proposed extension of the trolley system would require the installation of some new poles to hold up trolley wires along neighborhood rights-of-way, but existing poles would be used whenever possible to minimize the visual impact. Construction activities would include placing pole foundations, erecting poles, and stringing trolley wire. No new electrical substations would be needed, but the Othello Street project would require an underground, concrete-encased electrical duct to connect the new trolley wire extension to the existing substation.

The extensions would be built in several phases before and after the start-up of Link light rail service, which is planned for 2009. The Mount Baker/McClellan and Othello Street station overhead wire extensions would be designed in 2007 and built in 2008. The extension to Rainier Beach/Henderson Street Station would be considered for implementation after 2009.

Before finalizing the design for the extension, Metro is looking for public comments about these plans, and will host two open houses during the first week of April to hear what local residents and bus riders thinks. The meetings will be held:
Wednesday, April 4, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Rainier Community Center, multi-purpose room
4600 38th Avenue S., Seattle
Thursday, April 5, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
New Holly Gathering Hall
7054 32nd Avenue S., Seattle

The deadline for comments is Friday, April 13, 2007.