Everett, Wash.
Published: Sunday, June 15, 2008

Streetcar study approved

Mayor Ray Stephanson has reconsidered an earlier position and now supports a study to weigh the possible benefits of a streetcar line.

By David Chircop
Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- Mayor Ray Stephanson is doing an about-face three months after threatening to veto attempts to spend more money on a streetcar proposal.

His top aide this week forwarded a plan to Everett City Council to pay a Seattle consultant up to $30,000 to study the potential economic benefits of a multi-million dollar streetcar line.

The City Council approved the study in a 4-3 vote.

Councilmen Shannon Affholter, Ron Gipson and Arlan Hatloe opposed it.

Stephanson said the contract with Berk & Associates is for a modest sum and should give the city good information to make a final decision regarding streetcars. He reiterated that he is still opposed to raising the sales tax to pay for streetcars.

The new study is intended to dovetail with a $112,700 streetcar feasibility study released in December by San Francisco-based transportation consultants Nelson-Nygaard.

It will try to answer how land values along the streetcar line might be affected and how streetcars could improve the city's economic development potential.

It will also look at federal, state and local funding sources to pay for designing, building and operating a streetcar line.

The mayor's change of heart came after some downtown property owners and Everett City Council members criticized him for what they considered a premature decision.

They said the city hasn't fully explored the potential benefits of streetcars, including increased property values along the route and private investment streetcars have been known to leverage.

They also said streetcars could help prevent downtown businesses from being siphoned off by massive redevelopment projects planned for Everett Riverfront and Port Gardner Wharf.

The previous streetcar study concluded that a streetcar line linking Everett Station, downtown and Everett Marina is achievable. But it would come with an eye-popping price tag of $127.5 million. A cheaper alternative from Everett Station to Everett Community College would cost an estimated $115 million.

A streetcar line would cost about $2 million to $4.7 million to operate every year depending on the route and frequency of service.

Councilman Hatloe said he voted against spending more money on the proposal because the city already has several capital projects on the horizon including road projects, parks and a new fire station.

Councilwoman Brenda Stonecipher, who sits on the council's transportation committee, acknowledges streetcars would be expensive.

Still, she said the city needs to make a decision using a sound business rationale. That means looking at the potential economic benefits and value of streetcars as well as their cost.

"I'm really happy to have this piece of information come forward," Stonecipher said. "I really appreciate the mayor's decision to keep it on table."



Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA