Cross-posted from the SDOT Blog

Please note: this blog post is available in additional languages via the links below, including Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese.

In partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), bus lanes have been installed northbound on Rainier Ave. S. between S. Alaska St. and S. Walden St., and southbound between S. Oregon St. and S. Edmunds St. in Rainier Valley.

We’re now evaluating two alternatives to extend the bus lanes. This extension would be northbound on Rainier Ave. S.  between S. Walden St. and S. Grand St.

Please take our survey by November 13. You can share your input on the two proposed alternatives, how you travel on Rainier Ave. S, and how we can further improve your experience taking transit.

SDOT will be presenting the Phase 2 Rainier Ave. S. bus-only lane alternatives at a virtual public meeting on October 25. Meeting details will be posted on their website. SDOT will post a recording to the project website after the meeting.

Earlier this summer, SDOT installed the first phase of new bus-only lanes along Rainier Ave. S.
This includes northbound bus lanes from S. Alaskan St. to S. Walden St., and southbound bus lanes from S. Oregon St. to S. Edmonds St.  There is also a new southbound bus only lane along Rainier Ave. S. from S. Bayview St. to Mt. Baker Station that is part of the Route 7 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor program. We will continue to collect data over the coming months. So far, we’re noticing a travel time savings for buses.

 

Map of new bus lanes along Rainier Ave S, in two phases. The first phase was installed earlier this summer. Graphic: SDOT

We’re currently evaluating two options (“alternatives”) to extend the existing bus lanes on Rainier Ave. S. to the north, between S. Grand St. and S. Walden St.
Once fully installed, we expect bus riders will save around 5 minutes while traveling in morning peak traffic.

We’re asking you to help us select a preferred option based on community feedback.
Please take our survey by November 13 to share your thoughts, how you currently travel on Rainier Ave. S., and how you’d like us to improve your experience taking transit.

You can also attend a virtual public meeting on October 25 to learn more. Meeting details will be available on the SDOT website. SDOT will record the meeting and post a link to their website.

Below is a brief summary of the two alternatives.
You can also find more details about the benefits and considerations for each alternative on the SDOT website.

Alternative 1
In this option we would turn one northbound lane into a bus lane from S. Walden St to S. Grand St.

Graphic showing a section of Rainier Ave S with Alternative 1. Graphic: SDOT.


Alternative 2
Like Alternative 1, in this option we would turn one northbound lane into a bus lane from S. Walden St. to S. Grand St.

We would also remove the center turn lane between S. Grand St. and S. College St. and have two northbound travel lanes (approximately 5 blocks).

S Grand St to S College St (looking north)

S College St to S Walden St (looking north)

Graphic showing two sections of Rainier Ave S with Alternative 2. Graphic: SDOT.

Next steps
We’ll share more information on what we heard and next steps for the Phase 2 project by the end of the year. Project design will continue into 2023, and construction could begin as soon as 2024.

To learn more

Thank you for your time and interest in this project!