There was a press release sent to us in our mailboxes, I haven’t been able to relocate it anywhere else, but basically it said that over the next 8 weeks the South Lake Union Streetcar will be going through testing. First they will do a walk through test to ensure that the streetcars are able to clear branches, traffic signals, and other erroneous things that may disrupt the streetcar along the whole route. Once that is done they will do speed tests on Valley between Mercer and Westlake to see that the streetcar can achieve and maintain speed. Oh and stopping will also be checked as well. I guess that is important too! After that initial testing, then operators will undergo testing as well. So, literally it will not be long before we see them on the street. I am very excited for this to happen. Again to not have to walk to downtown during the rainy season is going to be wonderful. One thing I have noticed however, the ST Tacoma Link, and Portland Streetcar have electronic signs that alert people at the intersection that the streetcar or LRV is coming. I didn’t see these added to any of the intersections here in SLU. I wonder if they are going to omit these? Seems to be a bad idea if so. I did notice they have “Streetcar Zone” signs telling people not to park to close to the tracks. Should be a very interesting next couple of weeks.
2 Replies to “Streetcar Testing to Begin!”
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Testing started today:
http://www.orphanroad.com/blog/2007/10/streetcar-arrives
I saw some signs around Stewart and Westlake that warned people, but they weren’t electronic. Just standard yellow warning signs.
I recently moved to Portland, from Seattle, and we don’t have electronic signs on the Streetcar either, EXCEPT, in areas the trains move faster. Mostly, along the light rail lines, as opposed to the low speed streetcar in the Pearl. I think there may be some electronic signs on the Streetcar over by Riverplace where they get moving quickly…..