Seattle Center Monorail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seattle Center Monorail |
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The red monorail train passing over 5th Avenue
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| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | City of Seattle |
| Locale | Downtown Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Termini | Seattle Center (north) Westlake Center (south) |
| Stations | 2 |
| Service | |
| Type | Straddle-beam monorail |
| Operator(s) | Seattle Monorail Services |
| Rolling stock | 2 Alweg trains |
| Daily ridership | 4,780 (weekdays, 2018) |
| Ridership | 2,021,780 (2018) |
| History | |
| Opened | March 24, 1962 |
| Designated: | August 4, 2003 |
| Items: | 2 Alweg trains |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 0.9 miles (1.4 km) |
| Number of tracks | Double |
| Character | Elevated |
| Electrification | Third rail, 700 V DC |
| Operating speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
The Seattle Center Monorail is a special train that runs above the ground in Seattle, Washington, USA. This monorail travels about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) along 5th Avenue. It connects the Seattle Center to Westlake Center in Downtown Seattle. There are no stops in between.
The monorail is a popular tourist attraction. It also works as a regular public transit service. Trains run every ten minutes for up to 16 hours a day. It was built very quickly in eight months for the 1962 Century 21 Exposition. This was a world's fair held at the Seattle Center. The monorail cost $4.2 million to build. In 1988, it had big updates. The southern station moved into the Westlake Center shopping mall.
The monorail still uses its original two Alweg trains. Each train can carry up to 450 people. The city made them a historic landmark in 2003. The city government owns the monorail. A private company has run it since 1994. Before that, King County Metro operated it. About two million people ride the monorail each year. The money it earns is split between the company and the city. A trip usually takes about two minutes. There have been a few accidents over its many years of service. This includes a train-to-train collision in 2005.
People have suggested making the monorail system bigger since the 1960s. The biggest idea was the Seattle Monorail Project. This project started in 1997 to build a city-wide monorail network. It would have gone beyond the planned Link light rail system. But the project faced money problems. Costs were estimated to reach $11 billion. The project was canceled by a city vote in 2005.
Contents
Where the Monorail Goes
The monorail travels about 0.9 miles (1.4 km). It starts at the Seattle Center, a large park and event area. The Seattle Center station is near the Space Needle. It is also close to the Chihuly Garden and Glass and Memorial Stadium. This station is raised above the ground. It has three platforms: two for getting off and one for getting on. The monorail's repair area is below the platforms. From here, the tracks go east and then turn south. They even pass through the Museum of Pop Culture. This building was designed around the monorail tracks.
The monorail tracks cross over Broad Street. Then they run along the west side of 5th Avenue North. They pass by the KOMO Plaza news center. The tracks then slowly turn southeast. They go over a small office building and a car repair shop. This leads to 5th Avenue. This street is one-way, with traffic only going south. The monorail's support columns divide the street.
The monorail passes famous places like the Amazon Spheres and Westin Seattle towers. It reaches McGraw Square, where 5th Avenue turns slightly south. Before reaching the Westlake Center shopping mall, the tracks get very close together. This is called a gauntlet track. It means only one train can use the station at a time. The Westlake Center station is on the third floor of the mall. It has an elevator to the street. It also connects to the Westlake tunnel station for Link light rail trains. The South Lake Union Streetcar also stops nearby. Many bus routes run near the Westlake Center station.
How to Ride and Pay
The monorail ride between Seattle Center and Westlake Center takes about two minutes. Trains leave each station about every 10 minutes. Usually, only one train runs at a time. The monorail has two different schedules for different seasons. From September to May, trains run for 13–14 hours on weekdays. They run for 12 hours on Sundays. From May to September, trains run longer. Weekday trains run for 16 hours, and weekend trains for 15 hours.
Monorail service is often shorter on national holidays. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. For special events at the Seattle Center, hours are longer. Trains also run more often, every five minutes. This happens when both trains are used.
You can pay for monorail tickets at the ticket booths. You can use an ORCA card, a phone app, or paper tickets. Paper tickets can be bought with cash, credit/debit cards, or mobile payments. A one-way ticket for adults costs $3. For kids aged 6–18, it's $1.50. It's also $1.50 for people with a reduced rate. This includes senior citizens (65 and older), disabled people, and US military members. Round-trip tickets cost twice as much. Monthly passes are also available. Children four and under ride for free. In October 2019, the monorail started accepting ORCA cards. This is the payment system for all regional transit.
How the Monorail Works
A private company called Seattle Monorail Services (SMS) runs the monorail. This company started in 1994. Before that, the Seattle Center and King County Metro ran it together. The monorail does not get money from public sources for its daily operations. It covers its costs from ticket sales. It also gets federal money for big projects. It's unusual because it actually makes a profit. The company's contract with the city is renewed every ten years. They split the profits evenly.
In 2018, the monorail carried about 2.022 million passengers. On weekdays, it averaged 4,780 passengers. On weekends, it averaged 7,536 passengers. During the Century 21 Exposition in 1962, it carried 7.4 million people. This was about 90 percent of all fair visitors.
Trains and Tracks
The monorail runs completely above the ground. It uses 68 hollow support columns. These columns are up to 30 feet (9 meters) tall. The two tracks sit on strong concrete beams. These beams are about 70 feet (21 meters) long and 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall. Some parts of the track use special columns. This is because there isn't much space on curves. The tracks even pass over a building. The place where trains are fixed is under the Seattle Center station.
The system has two aluminum trains. They are called the "Blue Train" and "Red Train." They were built in 1962 by Alweg in West Germany. They have been running ever since. They had big updates in 2009 and 2010. Each train is 122 feet (37 meters) long. They are 10 feet (3.1 meters) wide and 14 feet (4.3 meters) tall. They have joints that let them bend. Each train has 124 seats. They can hold up to 450 passengers, including standing room.
Each train has 64 rubber tires. Sixteen tires carry the train's weight on top of the beam. The other 48 tires guide the train along the sides of the beam. The system was designed to drive itself. But operators control the trains using a joystick. They use LCD screens to see information. The trains usually glide without power for the second half of the trip. They use special brakes when they get near a station. The monorail gets its power from a third rail. It uses 700 volts of electricity. This powers eight electric motors. The trains used to go up to 60 mph (97 kph). Now, they usually go up to 45 mph (72 kph). In bad winter weather, the trains put down chemicals and salt on the tracks. This helps them keep normal speeds.
Monorail History
Early Ideas and Plans
There were ideas for monorails in Seattle in the early 1900s. But none of them were built. In 1910, an inventor named William H. Boyes showed a model of his monorail. He wanted to build a line from Seattle to Tacoma. Other plans for monorail systems were suggested in 1930 and 1955.
In 1955, Seattle started planning for its second World's Fair. It was to celebrate 50 years since the 1909 Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition. In 1957, a monorail was suggested. It would connect the fairgrounds to parking lots and other attractions. In 1958, a study looked into a monorail between Downtown Seattle and the fairgrounds. At first, a 5-mile (8 km) loop was suggested. But later, it was made shorter. It became a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) route on 5th Avenue. This would connect downtown hotels to the fairgrounds. It was estimated to cost $5.39 million.
Choosing a Design
In December 1958, Seattle asked companies to design and build the monorail. Companies like Lockheed Corporation and St. Louis Car Company sent ideas. A German company called Alwac International also sent a proposal. They had already started building the Disneyland Monorail System in California. In April 1959, Lockheed was chosen. Their design had three sleek trains that looked like jetliners.
The monorail was seen as a key part of the fair. It was also hoped to lead to a bigger city transit system. It was planned to use no local transit money. The costs were supposed to be covered by ticket sales. Lockheed and the city talked about the plans. But the city lost interest in running the system after the fair was shortened.
In February 1960, Alwac International made a new offer. They said they would pay for and build the monorail themselves. It would cost $3.5 million. They would collect ticket money and money from shops at the stations. If they made back their money, the system would go to the city. If not, it would be taken apart. The fair organizers chose Alwac. The final contract was signed in May 1961. The cost was updated to $4.2 million for bigger trains and stations.
Building the Monorail
In March 1961, the city approved building the monorail. Century 21, Alwac, and Howard S. Wright Construction Company worked on it. Howard S. Wright also helped pay for it. They also built the Space Needle. The permit said the monorail had to be removed six months after the fair. But Alwac wanted to sell it to the city.
The two monorail trains were being built in West Germany. On April 6, 1961, they started building the monorail. This day was called "Monorail Day." The first concrete columns were poured in May. A crane lifted the heavy columns into place in June. Concrete pouring for the Westlake Mall station began in late June. The large concrete beams for the tracks were made in Tacoma. They were brought to Seattle by truck. The first beam was put in place in September. Building the columns and tracks took about eight months. At least three lanes of traffic on 5th Avenue stayed open.
By December 1961, most of the tracks and half of the stations were done. The last track beam was put in place in January 1962. In February 1962, the city approved Century 21 employees to run the trains. Drivers and ticket sellers wore blue-and-white uniforms.
The first monorail train, the "Blue Train," arrived in Seattle on February 19, 1962. It was lifted onto the tracks that day. The monorail had its first test run on March 3. Jim West, a former cable car operator, drove the first test. Some test runs were special events. One was shown live on TV. Another was a preview ride for important people. The second train, the "Red Train," arrived on March 27. It started carrying passengers before the fair began.
The World's Fair and Beyond
The monorail and Space Needle opened for a preview on March 24, 1962. This was a month before the fair officially started. About 9,600 people rode the Blue Train on the first day. The fair officially opened on April 21. During the fair, adult tickets were 50 cents one-way. Children's tickets were 35 cents. Trains ran from early morning until past midnight. Each trip took 96 seconds. The monorail carried 7.4 million passengers during the fair. This was about 90 percent of all fair visitors.
The money from tickets fully paid for the monorail's $4.2 million building cost. After the fair, the monorail ran on a shorter schedule. It was limited to one train in winter. Alweg gave the monorail system to Century 21 Center, Inc. in June 1963. This meant the monorail could keep running.
Century 21 Center, Inc. had money problems in 1964. The city government took over the fairground operations. In October 1964, they stopped using ticket booths. Attendants on the trains collected fares instead. The city government bought the monorail in May 1965. It cost $775,150.
The Seattle Center reopened in June 1965. Monorail fares were lowered to 25 cents for adults. This was to attract more riders. The monorail's hours were extended. Ridership doubled in the first week of June. Some property owners sued the city in 1965. They said the monorail blocked their views. The city settled the lawsuit in 1968.
By the late 1960s, the monorail carried many passengers. It averaged 10,000 on weekdays and 14,000 on weekends in summer. The Seattle Transit System ran the monorail until 1973. Then, Metro Transit took over. The city still owned the monorail. In 1978, the monorail trains were repainted. The red train became green. This was because of a popular exhibit about Pharaoh Tutankhamun at the Seattle Center. This exhibit made monorail ridership jump to 2.8 million in 1978.
Updates and Keeping it Historic
The old station at Westlake Mall was very large. It was over Pine Street. This area was later turned into a public plaza. The station had a moving walkway and a unique roof. In 1968, the station was made smaller. The outer platforms were removed. The roof was changed to a simpler design.
A bigger renovation happened in 1988. This was to make way for Westlake Park and the Westlake Center mall. The old station was seen as an "eyesore." The city wanted to redevelop the area. The new plan included tearing down the old station. Trains would stop at a new station inside the mall.
Moving the station was difficult. Engineers found that the tracks needed major changes. The city suggested moving the columns to the sidewalk. They also created a gauntlet track. This meant only one train could use the Westlake station at a time. The monorail relocation project was estimated to cost $19 million. The city decided to keep the system. They spent $2.7 million on planning the station changes.
The federal government gave $5.6 million for the project. A temporary station was built at 5th Avenue and Stewart Street. The old Westlake Mall station closed on September 1, 1986. It was torn down over the next two months. The temporary station opened on September 17, 1986. This allowed monorail service to continue. It only served the blue train. The city council approved $7 million to build the permanent station.
The monorail project also improved the electrical systems. The Seattle Center station was expanded. The trains also got some updates. The new Westlake Center shopping mall opened on October 20, 1988. The new monorail station inside the mall was used for one day. Then it closed for more construction. Engineers found that one track was too close to the platform. This stopped the blue train from using it. The problem was fixed. The new Westlake Center monorail station finally opened on February 25, 1989. The red train also returned to service.
In 1994, a private company took over running the monorail. This company signed a ten-year contract with the city. The Museum of Pop Culture building was built over the monorail tracks from 1998 to 2000. The building was designed so the tracks would pass through its center. The monorail tracks and trains were made a historic landmark in April 2003. This happened while there were plans to change or remove the line. In July, the city council passed the landmark law. This protected the two Alweg trains.
The monorail closed for a long time on March 16, 2020. This was because fewer people were riding during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on May 28 with limited service. But it closed again that weekend due to protests.
Future Plans
The monorail joined the regional fare system in the late 2010s. It started accepting mobile tickets. Then it accepted the ORCA card in October 2019. The Climate Pledge Arena is being updated for a new National Hockey League team. The monorail stations will also be upgraded. This will help them handle bigger crowds. The Westlake Center station will be expanded. It will be able to handle 6,000 people per hour. It will get new ticket gates and machines for ORCA cards. The hockey team will also pay for free transit passes for fans. This will reduce car trips to the arena. The hockey team's owners also plan to buy half of Seattle Monorail Services.
Ideas for Expansion
Many people have suggested making the monorail bigger. The main goal was to turn it into a city-wide rapid transit system. In 1961, a businessman named Ben B. Ehrlichman suggested extending the monorail. He wanted it to go north to Alderwood Manor and south to the airport. This first system would have cost $60 million. Another line was suggested for the Eastside.
The Forward Thrust program included a plan for a conventional rapid transit system. But voters rejected it in 1968 and 1970. Designers thought about extending the monorail. But they found it would not be able to carry enough people. In 1976, ABAM Engineers drew up a regional monorail plan. They designed the Walt Disney World Monorail System. They imagined an 83-mile (134 km) network with 41 stations. It would have 700 monorail vehicles. This would cost $500 million. But the plan was not considered further.
In 1970, the city government announced its own plan. They wanted to extend the monorail to a parking garage near a proposed stadium. But this plan was put aside. In 1979, Seattle studied ways to improve the monorail. This included a loop around the Seattle Center. It also looked at adding a station in the Denny Regrade area. The energy crisis in the 1970s led to more interest in the monorail. But the federal government rejected Seattle's ideas.
The Seattle Monorail Project
The Regional Transit Authority was formed in 1993. It was to create a regional light rail plan. Voters approved this plan in 1996. In 1996, a taxi driver named Dick Falkenbury had an idea. He wanted to build a city-wide monorail system. He got enough signatures for a ballot initiative. Falkenbury's idea was for an "X"-shaped system. It would go from Downtown Seattle to Ballard, Lake City, Rainier Valley, and West Seattle. It was estimated to cost $850 million. Voters approved this plan, called Initiative 41, in November 1997. This created the Elevated Transportation Company (ETC).
The city government chose a board for the ETC. They paid for early planning. But they did not agree to pay for a $4 million study in 2000. The original monorail idea was changed. Voters approved a new plan in November 2000. This included $6 million for a study. The first part, the 14-mile (23 km) "Green Line," was estimated to cost $1.75 billion. A special tax on vehicles would pay for it. Voters narrowly approved this tax in November 2002. This created the Seattle Popular Monorail Authority.
The monorail project first attracted two companies: Hitachi and Bombardier. But both pulled out in April 2004. They were worried about costs. The project faced problems because tax money was lower than expected. Design changes were made to keep costs within budget. A recall measure in November 2004 tried to stop the monorail. But voters rejected it.
The monorail operator made a deal with Cascadia Monorail in June 2005. But they had not shared the full financial details. A new cost estimate of $11 billion was revealed later that month. This included debt payments until 2050. The Seattle Monorail Project withdrew this estimate after public criticism. The monorail project was finally stopped after a fifth vote in November 2005. 64 percent of voters rejected it. The Seattle Monorail Project officially ended in January 2008. It had spent $124.7 million on planning and buying property.
Images for kids
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Aftermath of the November 2005 collision near the Westlake Center terminal in Downtown Seattle
See also
In Spanish: Monorriel de Seattle para niños
