CHS reports that today the City Council approved the financing plan for the new First Hill streetcar, connecting the International District with Capitol Hill:
Transportation chair Jan Drago said the line will be completed quickly -- likely before the Broadway station opens in 2016. "We will be fast-forwarding the money," Drago said.
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen voiced his opposition to the cost of streetcars but voted for the bill. Before voting, Rasmussen called the project "another camel under the tent" toward completing a complete streetcar system in the city.
In addition to structuring the working agreement with Sound Transit, the bill calls for the City Council to define the line's route and own the ongoing funding process to manage any costs overruns or renegotiation with Sound Transit.
The project was approved last year as a part of the second phase of Sound Transit, and will be paid for by that agency.
Interesting that the city council has final say on the route. Now we know who to lobby to get it to service the quickly growing and transit-starved east side of First Hill.
