100 business and community leaders call for mayor to resume streetcar expansion

SEATTLE — The streets of Pioneer Square are a mess with utility work.

The work was supposed to precede construction of a new streetcar line on First Avenue, but Mayor Jenny Durkan put the project on hold after capital cost overruns reached $23 million.

"We're at risk of having torn up streets and all of our infrastructure upgrades basically underground," said Lisa Howard of the Alliance for Pioneer Square.

She's one of 100 community and business leaders to sign a letter to Durkan urging her to resume the streetcar expansion.

The letter points out cancellation could put the city at risk of losing federal funds and argues that streetcars drive economic growth more than buses because they're easier for people who are visiting Seattle or unfamiliar with transit to use.

The Seattle Streetcar Coalition also suggests money can be saved by choosing less costly design options for streetcar stops.

"We want to see the streetcar network completed so the two previous lines aren't a waste of our previous work and taxpayer dollars," Howard said.

In March, the mayor announced a consultant would review the expansion plan and said the review would be done by June 19.

That deadline has passed.

The mayor's office says she asked for additional analysis.

More news from KIRO 7

• 3 children killed in fiery Auburn crash
• $1 million nationwide warrant for suspect in woman's beheading death in Washington
• Body found in shallow grave could be that of missing teen
• Nine ducklings rescued by firefighters in Bellevue
• Jarrod Ramos: What we know about the suspect in the Capital Gazette shooting

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP

Cox Media Group