We're making improvements to 3rd Ave in downtown Seattle

Greetings,

I hope this email finds you well. We’re making progress on designing safety improvements at 3^rd Ave and Yesler Way and bus stop upgrades on 3^rd Ave S and S Matin St. These changes will improve safety for people walking, biking, and rolling, and help buses travel more efficiently. We expect to finish our design work on both projects by the end of the year and begin construction in 2024. This email has updates on both projects and more information about other changes we’re making to the 3^rd Ave transit corridor in 2024.  

3^rd Ave and Yesler Way Safety Improvements

In 2022, we completed a pilot project to improve safety and help buses travel more efficiently at the intersection of 3^rd Ave and Yesler Way. We installed paint and posts to reduce crossing distances and create more space for people walking, biking, and rolling. We’re now designing upgrades that will make these safety improvements permanent. The planned upgrades include:

• Creating straighter and separate crossings for bicyclists and pedestrians crossing 3^rd Ave at Dilling Way
• Replacing paint and post with concrete curb bulbs and expanding sidewalks to shorten crossing distances and create more space for people crossing the street
• Improving accessibility by replacing curb ramps and repairing cracked sidewalks
• Installing new street trees, pedestrian lighting, wayfinding signs, and art installations in the sidewalk

Map showing planned safety improvements at the intersection of 3rd Ave and Yesler Way

There may be minor design changes as we complete the final design. The project design is at 90% and we expect to complete design by the end of the year. Construction will begin as soon as early 2024. More information, including an enlarged project map, can be found on the project webpage. 

3^rd Ave S and S Main St Bus Stop Improvements

The southbound bus stop at 3^rd Ave S and S Main St is King County Metro’s 10^th busiest bus stop, serving about 740 buses, 24 different bus routes, and over 2,600 bus riders each weekday. The current bus stop lacks the accessibility and design features for such a busy bus stop. We’re designing upgrades to make the bus stop safer and more comfortable. We’re also making changes to the street design to help buses and other vehicles travel through the intersection more efficiently.

The project includes:

• Expanding the sidewalk on the west side of the street between S Washington St and S Main St to provide more space for people at the bus stop and more separation between people and the street and the adjacent private parking lot.
• Repaving most of the street between Yesler Way and S Main St. Seattle Public Utilities also plans to make repairs to their storm sewer at the intersections of S Washington St and S Main St and 2^nd Ave Ext.
• Adding amenities at the bus stop including a new real-time bus arrival kiosk with ORCA card reader, new bus shelters, a pedestrian railing and pedestrian lighting, street trees, and wayfinding signage. We’re also continuing to evaluate options to incorporate an art installation.
• Changing 3^rd Ave S between S Washington St and S Main St to be southbound only. We will keep one southbound through lane and through/left turn lane. We will also keep the parking and loading zones on the east side of the street.

Map showing the planned upgrades to the bus stop at 3rd Ave S and S Main St

There may be design changes as we complete the final design. The project design is at 60% and we expect to complete design by the end of the year. Construction will begin as soon as summer 2024. More information, including an enlarged project map, can be found on the project webpage. 

Other changes to the 3^rd Ave Transit Corridor  

We’re planning other changes to the 3^rd Ave Transit Corridor to make buses more reliable and efficient. Starting as soon as summer 2024, we plan to:

• Repave 3^rd Ave between Virginia St and Pine St. While we rebuild the street, Seattle Public Utilities will replace an over 110-year-old watermain between Virginia St and Pine St. Rebuilding the road will help buses and other vehicles travel more smoothly.
• Expand the 6 AM – 7 PM bus only restrictions on 3^rd Ave 3 blocks north to Blanchard St. 3^rd Ave is currently restricted to buses only from Yesler Way to Stewart St, 7 days a week. We plan to expand the bus only restrictions north from Stewart St to Blanchard St. These 3 blocks are used by many high ridership buses with frequent service, such as the RapidRide C, D, E, and Route 40. Expanding the bus only restrictions will help these buses travel more efficiently and complete the 3rd Ave Transit Corridor.
• Replace real-time information kiosks at many bus stops. We’re working with King County Metro to replace broken kiosks on 3rd Ave and Westlake Ave. The new kiosks will have real-time arrival information and ORCA card readers what will help people board the bus more quickly. King County Metro plans to start installing the new kiosks as soon as late 2024. A map with the locations of the kiosk replacements is on our webpage. 

We’ll be doing more outreach to talk with people about these changes to the 3^rd Ave Transit Corridor and the paving work later this fall and into next year. We will also continue providing updates on all these improvements to 3^rd Ave in downtown. In the meantime, visit our 3^rd Ave Improvements webpage to learn more!

If you have questions about any of these projects, please contact the outreach team at: 3rdAveImprovements@seattle.gov or 206-900-8729

Sincerely, 

Candace Goodrich (Brik)

Public Outreach Lead - 3rd Ave Improvement Projects

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