Seattle City council eyes streetcar network

Now that the South Lake Union Streetcar has finally hit the tracks, and the initial ridership numbers have been analyzed, the Seattle City council is considering a streetcar network to serve other parts of the city. West Seattle and Ballard are both areas that would be benefited from the ill-fated monorail project, which was eventually voted down because of potential cost overruns and other bad decisions. Now, the city is considering the surface route option of a trolley because buses simply can't provide the necessary service to either of those areas.

This was a great idea in the early part of the 20th Century - when Seattle was laced with trolley tracks everywhere - and it's a great idea now as vehicular traffic has increase the need for faster options. Sadly, there's also the stigma that a bus ride - at least in Seattle - will also mean enduring panhandlers, gang activity, and mental illness. Of course, this isn't entirely true for all routes but the myth exists anyway and there's not much that can be done about it. Trolleys, on the other hand, have a quaint and more homey sense about them. It can give the city a soul again that once existed until the tracks were pulled or paved over. I'm also holding out hope that the Waterfront Trolley that ran until 2005 will someday be reinstated when they figure out where to put the trolley car barn.

Hopefully this is an option that will come around and be seen as a plus in this area.