Rainier Ave S Bus Lane Project Update - September 12

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 09/12/2024 04:46 PM PDT
Seattle Department of Transportation logo

Thank you for your interest in the Rainier Ave S Bus Lane Project to make transit an accessible, convenient, and reliable transportation choice for everyone living in, working in, and visiting the Rainier Valley. Please feel free to share this information with your fellow neighbors and encourage them to sign up to receive updates using this link.

Rainier Ave S Bus Lane Project Update

Construction of the Rainier Ave S Bus Lane Project began on September 3! Crews will work in segments along the project area through spring 2025.

Continue visiting our project website or subscribe to our email list for bi-weekly updates on construction activities.

Over the next two weeks, you'll see the following construction activities at Rainier Ave S and S College St. Our crews will excavate and trench on the east side of Rainier Av S near this intersection and install signal and lighting conduits replacing sidewalk with new concrete.

The driveway into Taco Time's parking lot from Rainier Ave S will be closed for approximately 4 weeks on weekdays, from 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The driveway will be reopened evenings and weekends with no scheduled work. Access to Taco Time will be maintained via the driveway on S College St.

What to expect during construction

Typical work hours are Monday - Friday, from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. During this time you can expect:

  • Temporary traffic revisions to accommodate construction vehicles and equipment
  • Temporary parking restrictions near work zones
  • Noisy construction activities, such as vehicle backup alarms for safety, heavy truck use, and the use of power tools.
  • We anticipate some weekend work during the day on September 21 - 22.

 

Project map showing extension of northbound bus only lane on Rainier Ave S.

Project map showing extension of northbound bus only lane on Rainier Ave S, sidewalk repair work, and safety improvements at Rainier Ave S/S Grand St and Rainier Ave S/S College St.

This project includes the extension of the northbound bus lane on Rainier Ave S from S Walden St to S State St, along with other safety changes requested by community members to make it easier and safer to get around on this busy street. This project will improve the reliability of the Route 7 bus and get us ready for the future RapidRide R Line.

Through collaboration with King County Metro, our goal is to make transit an accessible, convenient, and reliable transportation choice. This project includes:

  • New red painted bus lane between S Walden St and S State St in the northbound direction
  • Sidewalk repair in areas where the most people walk and take the bus on Rainier Ave S
  • At S College St and S State St:
    • New signals to make it easier and safer for people to cross the street
    • New marked crosswalks
    • ADA-compliant curb ramps
    • New Streetlights

We've been reaching out to community members, community-based organizations, and businesses in the project area and will continue to do so in the next few weeks. We want to share construction information with neighbors and community members.

Please visit our website to learn more about the project, and sign up to receive project updates. You can email us at TransitLanes@seattle.gov or call at (206) 257-2201.


Sincerely,

Ching Chan
Public Engagement Lead
City of Seattle, Department of Transportation

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