If downtown is the heart of the city, then 3rd Ave is its main artery. Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is working with King County Metro to build improvements on 3rd Ave. Starting this year, we have multiple projects coming up to make bus travel more reliable and to maintain the street, sidewalks, bus stops, and utilities on 3rd Ave in downtown Seattle.
 Buses travel on 3rd Ave and Yesler Way in the south end of downtown Seattle. Photo: SDOT
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expanding the transit corridor
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upgrading bus stops and their surrounding areas
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improving sidewalks and lighting to make it easier to walk
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repaving the street to give buses a smoother ride
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maintaining utility systems
Extending the 3rd Ave transit corridor
The 3rd Ave transit corridor helps people riding the bus get where they’re going faster and more reliably. Right now, the transit corridor is between Yesler Way and Stewart St. We plan to extend it three blocks north to Blanchard St. These changes will help create a more efficient public transportation network. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer. To learn more, please visit the
3rd Ave repaving and water main replacement
This year, we will repave 3rd Ave between Virginia and Pine streets to give buses a smoother ride. Restoring the pavement will preserve and maintain our street infrastructure. SDOT will also coordinate with Seattle Public Utilities to replace an old underground water main during paving. This helps avoid the need for more street closures in the future. Construction may begin as soon as summer 2024. To learn more, please visit the
3rd Ave S and S Main St bus stop area improvements
In partnership with Metro, we are making changes around the 3rd Ave S and S Main St bus stop. This is a major transit hub near art galleries, non-profit organizations, and other essential services that make Pioneer Square such an important area. The Federal Transit Administration will fund a significant portion of this project.
Changes include new bus shelters, benches, signs with real-time information, and other features to make it safer and more comfortable for people waiting for the bus. We will make the sidewalk wider, plant two new street trees, install new lighting, and fix the ADA-accessible curb ramps on the west side of 3rd Ave S. 4Culture will install public art piece by Preston Singletary and David Franklin. To learn more and see a map of the project area, please visit the project website.
3rd Ave S & Yesler Way safety improvements
We are working to make the intersection of 3rd Ave S and Yesler Way safer. This is a major bus thoroughfare and transfer point for Pioneer Square Link light rail riders, so we want to make this area easier for people to get around. We started making temporary changes in 2022, and now will make those changes permanent with some adjustments based on lessons learned.
This spring, we plan to permanently replace the former vehicle lanes and temporary plastic posts with a new, wider concrete sidewalk. We will also plant new street trees, add pedestrian lighting, and install directional signs for pedestrians.
To learn more and see a map of the project area, please visit the project website.
Stay connected!
These 3rd Ave projects will help create a better-connected and more sustainable transit network for everyone coming downtown and support Seattle’s larger downtown recovery effort. These changes to 3rd Ave are funded by the voter-approved Levy to Move Seattle.
Matthew Howard, Project Outreach Lead
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