City of Seattle

Seattle City CouncilCouncilmember Richard McIverCity Council urges Sound Transit Board to retain First Hill StationCouncil says First Hill is a vital link in the regional transit systemSEATTLE -A Resolution, passed by the City Council today, strongly urges Sound Transit to continue to include a light rail station in its North Link alignment on Seattle’s First Hill. The resolution was sponsored by eight of the nine-member Council, led by Councilmember Richard McIver.”The First Hill station is projected to have almost 10,000 daily riders and is a vital station in the regional transit system,” said McIver. “Deciding not to build a station there will be an extremely difficult decision to reverse in the future.” The Council contends that Link light rail must serve the highest-density residential and commercial areas in the city and in the region. This strategy will yield the highest ridership and will also provide a competitive alternative mode of travel for those coming to and from these dense areas. It’s crucial, said President Jan Drago, “that Sound Transit not abandon a First Hill station. If there are issues with the First Hill site, we should reconsider its depth and even look at alternative construction methods.” The First Hill Station is a densely populated transit-dependent regional urban center. * Over 22,000 people work on First Hill, which has the highest employment density in the region outside of Seattle’s downtown. * First Hill is home to four major institutions within walking distance of the planned station. * First Hill is second in the region only to Downtown Seattle and Capitol Hill in population density, with over 6,000 households. * Household ownership of vehicles in the neighborhood is much lower than the City and regional average, indicating a higher degree of dependence on transit. Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan calls for additional growth on First Hill. The adopted growth targets for the First Hill Urban Center Village call for a 20% increase in households and a 10% increase in jobs by 2024. Much of First Hill is zoned for high-rise development.The First Hill station was approved by voters as part of “Sound Move” in 1996 and has been included in all adopted plans since then. It is part of the Locally Preferred Alternative for North Link adopted by the Sound Transit Board in 2004. Removing it at this point would break commitments to voters that have been in place since 1996.The Sound Transit Board is scheduled to vote on whether to include the First Hill Station in an application for federal funding for the next phase of North Link on July 28, 2005. ##