Getting Around Seattle

By Car
The major north-south route is I-5 from the Canadian border through Seattle to Portland and California. East-west traffic generally follows I-90, which crosses the Cascade Mountains and approaches Seattle over Lake Washington from Spokane and the East. Additional freeway lanes on sections of I-5 and I-90 operate as reversible roadways, inbound during morning hours and outbound afternoons and evenings.

SR 520, which becomes the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, runs east-west from I-5 in Seattle to I-405 in Bellevue. I-405 also runs north-south around Lake Washington and connects to I-5, which runs through the city.

By Boat
Washington State Ferries, Colman Dock (Pier 52) at the foot of Marion Street, link Seattle with the Olympic Peninsula via Bremerton and Bainbridge Island; passenger-only ferries link Colman Dock (Pier 50) with Vashon Island. State ferries also leave Fauntleroy Pier in West Seattle for Vashon Island and Southworth. State ferry service also is available from Edmonds to Kingston and from Point Defiance (Tacoma) to Tahlequah (Vashon Island). Phone (206) 464-6400, or (800) 843-3779 in Wash.

Clipper Navigation provides daily round-trip passenger catamaran service between Seattle's Pier 69 and Victoria, British Columbia, and seasonal service to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. For schedule information write Clipper Navigation, 2701 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121. Phone (206) 448-5000 or (800) 888-2535.

Seattle is a popular departure point for cruise ships. The ocean-going vessels dock at Pier 66 at Bell Street Pier, downtown on the waterfront and at Terminal 30 at the south end of the waterfront.

Street System
Seattle's avenues run north and south; they are designated by both numbers and names. Streets, also both numbered and named, run east and west. Most addresses also have area designations--N., S., E., W., N.E., N.W., S.E. or S.W.--that are important in determining correct locations. The downtown section south of Denny Way, north of Yesler Way and west of Melrose Avenue and Broadway, has avenues running parallel to Elliott Bay and streets going perpendicular to it.

Many downtown streets are one way. Synchronized traffic lights on northbound 4th Avenue and southbound 2nd Avenue make crossing the city easier. The speed limit is 30 mph or as posted. Right turns are permitted at red lights after a complete stop, unless signs indicate otherwise. Rush hours, 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., should be avoided if possible.

Portions of I-5 and I-90 have express lanes that change traffic flow during certain times; be aware of highway signs indicating times and directions.

Parking
On-street parking in downtown Seattle is metered (Mon.-Sat. 8-6) and costs 25c for 10 minutes; $1.50 for 1 hour. During rush hours, however, parking is prohibited on certain streets. There are off-street parking lots throughout the downtown area. Parking garages can be found at Pacific Place (on 6th Avenue between Pine and Olive streets), on Steward Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues, on 6th Avenue between Union and Pike streets, on Pike Street between 5th and 6th avenues and on 5th Avenue between Seneca and Spring streets. Garage rates range from $3-$9 for an hour to $20-$27 for a full day.

Public Transportation
Metro Transit operates a full schedule of bus and trolley service within Seattle and King County. Passengers must have the exact fare: $1.25. These fares increase to $1.50 and $2, respectively, during rush hours. Passengers pay as they board on inbound and crosstown services and as they exit on outbound routes.

Free bus service is provided weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. within the downtown area bordered by Battery Street on the north, Jackson Street on the south, 6th Avenue on the east and the waterfront on the west. For route information phone (206) 553-3000.

The Monorail, which whisks passengers from its Westlake Center terminal at 5th Avenue and Pine Street to Seattle Center in 95 seconds, operates Mon.-Fri. 7:30-11, Sat.-Sun. 9-11. The fare is $1.75; over 65, the physically impaired and ages 5-12, 75c. For information phone (206) 905-2620.

Sound Transit provides express bus service throughout the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett-Bellevue metropolitan region. Sounder commuter trains operate Mon.-Fri. 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. between Seattle, Tacoma and Everett. For information phone (206) 398-5000 or (800) 201-4900.