City of Seattle, WA

05/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/02/2024 17:08

Maintaining & modernizing Seattle’s transportation system with the 11th / 12th Ave NE paving and safety project | LEVY DOLLARS AT WORK

Mayor Bruce Harrell and SDOT Director Greg Spotts joined construction crews working on the 11th/12th Ave NE Paving and Safety Project.

Blog stats: 1,100 words | 5-minute read

At-a-glance:

  • There are two big projects getting underway: the RapidRide J Line project and the 11th Ave NE & 12th Ave NE Paving & Safety Project.
  • Together, these projects maintain and modernize streets and utilities and improve safety for all, while helping the climate by making bus service and bike lanes even better.
  • The J Line project brings bus riders more frequent and reliable bus service improving access to the Roosevelt and University District Link light rail stations and connecting the U District, Eastlake, South Lake Union, Belltown, and Downtown Seattle neighborhoods.
  • The projects fill major stretches of the citywide bike network from northeast Seattle into South Lake Union connecting people to existing protected bike lanes in Downtown and beyond.
  • We're coordinating construction to help manage impacts to the traveling public, businesses, and freight.
  • This blog post illustrates how the benefits of each project combine to support the multimodal system Seattleites deserve and shares how to stay informed through construction begins. Sign up to receive email updates.

Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and SDOT Director Greg Spotts joined construction crews working on the 11th/12th Ave NE Paving and Safety Project. This project, along with the RapidRide J Line project which enter the construction phase in the near future, represent two important and closely connected achievements funded by the Levy to Move Seattle.

Our goal is to share clear, timely information so you know what to expect, and highlight the benefits these projects will provide upon their completion.

11th Ave NE & 12th Ave NE Paving & Safety Project

The project will pave 11th and 12th Aves NE, install a new protected bike lane connecting to the Roosevelt Link Light Rail Station, and upgrade curb ramps to be ADA-accessible. This project is part of our Vision Zero initiative to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on Seattle's streets. It includes enhanced crosswalks and traffic signals, sidewalk repairs, and a new protected bike lane connection on the east side of the street.

[Link]People bike through the intersection of Roosevelt Way NE and NE Ravenna Blvd, just west of the project area. Photo: SDOT

Key benefits include:

  • Street paving of 11th and 12th Aves NE between NE 43rd and NE 67th streets, including ADA-accessible curb ramps throughout the project area.
  • New protected bike lane on the east side of 11th Ave NE & 12th Ave NE, to build out the neighborhood's bike network. The eastside protected bike lane also reduces parking removal.
  • Raised protected bike lanes at bus stops allowing for a continuous protected bike lane at bus stops in the project area.
  • Spot sidewalk repairs, making it easier to walk or roll on sidewalks in the neighborhood.
  • Enhanced crosswalks and traffic signals improve safety for people walking, rolling, and biking. This includes new crosswalks at NE 55th St, NE Ravenna Blvd, and NE 62nd St.

Schedule:

RapidRide J Line project

The RapidRide J Line upgrades King County Metro's Route 70 with an improved RapidRide level of service. The project will enhance bus speed, access, reliability, and station amenities. It will also install protected bike lanes, a new watermain and paving on Eastlake Ave E, and bring many more upgrades as it connects Downtown Seattle with the neighborhoods of Belltown, South Lake Union, Eastlake, and the University District.

[Link]A bike parked at the intersection of Eastlake Ave E and E Lynn St near Eastlake Coffee & Cafe. Photo: SDOT

Key benefits - the project will:

  • Improve transit travel time and reliability throughout the route by adding transit lanes and transit signal priority.
  • Provide a high-quality rider experience with stations that include shelters, lighting, real-time arrival information, and all-door boarding.
  • Improve access to transit through upgraded curb ramps, sidewalks, and signals.
  • Improve connections to Link light rail, other bus lines, and Seattle Streetcar.
  • Install protected bike lanes to improve safety of all travelers.
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions with more transit options and fewer cars on the road.
  • Pave Eastlake Ave E from E from Fuhrman Ave E to Fairview Ave E with at least 12 inches of concrete, creating a roadway that will last more than 50 years.
  • Partner with Seattle Public Utilities to replace the existing watermain on Eastlake Ave E.

Schedule:

  • Construction begins: late-summer 2024
  • RapidRide J service launch: 2027 (current estimate)

A brief project history

The RapidRide J Line project (formerly known as RapidRide Roosevelt) previously extended north to the Roosevelt neighborhood. In 2020, several factors including funding constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the project's northern limits ending in the University District. For more details, please read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document starting on page 12. Street and travel safety improvements, previously planned to be constructed concurrently with the RapidRide Roosevelt project, are now being constructed as part of the 11th/12th Ave NE project (between NE 43rd St and NE 67th St). This project will construct the paving improvements that are part of the Levy to Move Seattle commitments, improve access to the Roosevelt Link light rail station, and complement the existing north-south bike lane network in the area.

Project funding

Both of these projects are funded by the voter-approved Levy to Move Seattle. Thank you, Seattle! The RapidRide J Line project is a joint project with King County Metro and includes significant federal funding through a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant, as well as funding from, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the University of Washington. The 11th/12th Ave NE project includes a grant from the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA). We'd like to thank our federal partners including the Biden Administration, U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and the FTA and FHWA for their support.

To stay informed:

Thank you for your time, interest, and engagement to help shape these two vital projects as we get ready to launch construction. We look forward to sharing more updates as work gets underway.