Proposed upgrades to Seattle waterfront |
Port update
by Roderick Eime
I last
visited Seattle in May 2009 when the city was on the verge of a major overhaul
and it was interesting to see one of the world’s Top 50 most livable cities transform
in this short time.
The new light
rail was under test along the waterfront ahead of its official opening
last
December and I had the chance to test it on my trip to Hotel Five on
Fifth Ave near the Seattle Center. Up until 2005, historic ex-Melbourne
trams ran along the waterfront but plans for their return are unclear.
The biggest
news from the home of Starbucks is the demolition of the unsightly Alaskan Way, a 60-year-old
overpass that rang along the waterfront much like Sydney’s Cahill Expressway. The heavy
machinery moved in last October and reduced the quake damaged roadway to rubble
to make way for a massive rejuvenation project along the waterfront from Century
Link Stadium, past the aquarium and Pike
Place to the Bell Harbour
cruise terminal.
According
to the developers, www.waterfrontseattle.org,
the waterfront program will include ‘continuous’ and ‘event-based’ activities.
Strolling, jogging, biking, driving, and parking are supported along the entire
length of the waterfront, whereas event-based programs will happen in strategic
locations to maximize synergies with existing destinations. Pier 62/63 will be
the focus of much activity including rollerskating, sun bathing, concerts, ice
skating, swimming, events, market and views to the bay. See the website for
comprehensive details of the development.
All this
refurbishment will hold the city in good stead as it continues to win more business from its nearby rival port, Vancouver,
across the border.
Brad Jones,
director of tourism development for SCVB, tells me Seattle now has more sailings than its
Canadian rival and has essentially captured the market for Alaskan cruise departures.
This is due, Jones says, because of the perception that it is easier for US
citizens to use a domestic port and the relative cost of airfares to Seattle.
This year,
the Port of Seattle expects in excess of 200 ship
visits delivering more than 430,000 passengers, a number that seems set to
rise. This year and next, new and returning ships to include Seattle in their
itineraries are Celebrity Cruises' 2850-passenger Solstice, Oceania’s 684-passenger
Regatta, Norwegian Cruise Line adds a third vessel while Disney returns to Seattle
after two seasons in Vancouver. The famous Rocky Mountaineer railroad also
begins routes to Seattle
in 2013.
Port of Seattle spokesman, Peter
McGraw, added that “because the Port
of Seattle also includes Sea-Tac International Airport,
we are able to provide the added convenience of boarding passes for passengers disembarking
from cruise vessels along with handling their baggage. Furthermore airfares
into Sea-Tac (SEA) tend to be lower than at our competitor’s closest airports.”
Australians wishing to reach Seattle
will need to fly into either Vancouver (eg Air Canada), San Francisco
(eg United) or LAX (eg Virgin, Air NZ or Qantas) then connect with a local airline,
probably Alaskan, which hubs out of Seattle.
Seattle,
I’ve found, is an Aussie-friendly city with familiar transport systems,
like-minded and enriching tourism attractions in, or close to the city centre
and excellent quality accommodation at reasonable prices.
No comments:
Post a Comment