1st Ave NE Shared-Use Path
Updated April 18, 2024
What's Happening Now?
We are gathering feedback on our early design and continue to meet with neighbors to understand neighborhood priorities. We’ll have in-person outreach events for neighbors to meet the project team, ask questions, and give comments in the coming months. In the meantime, please let us know what you think of the project or ask questions by emailing 1stAveNEPath@seattle.gov.
Project Overview
The 1st Ave NE Shared-Use Path Project creates a safer, more comfortable environment for people of all ages and abilities to travel on the east side of 1st Ave NE between NE 130th St and NE 117th St. As part of the Safe Routes to School program, these improvements will provide connections to James Baldwin Elementary School, Northacres Park, and future walking and biking improvements on N 130th St that connect to Sound Transit’s NE 130th St Infill Station opening in 2026.
Project elements include:
- New 12-ft concrete shared-use path for people walking, biking, and rolling on the east side of 1st Ave NE from NE 130th St to just south of NE 120th St (connecting to the existing sidewalk)
- New protected bike lanes from just south of NE 120th St to NE 117th St
- New curb ramps that comply with Americans with Disabilities (ADA) standards
- Crossing improvements at NE 125th St and NE 120th St
- Drainage improvements to address localized flooding issues
- Rebuild existing driveway entrances on the east side of 1st Ave NE to current standards
Project Design
Current street design
Proposed street design
Project Background
The 1st Ave NE Shared-Use Path project is the result of community feedback that identified a need for improved safety and accessibility between Northacres Park and James Baldwin Elementary School (formerly Northgate Elementary School). We heard community priorities through the NE 130th St Shoreline Multimodal Access Study and in direct conversations with area stakeholders such as James Baldwin Elementary. Community priorities included:
- Sidewalks on 1st Ave NE between NE 117th St and NE 130th St
- Safe Routes to School for the new James Baldwin Elementary School (formerly Northgate Elementary School)
- Crossing improvements at the intersection of NE 125th St and 1st Ave NE
- Provide connections to and through Northacres Park
Project goals include:
- Creating a safer and more comfortable walking, biking, and rolling environment that also reduces serious injury and fatal collisions
- Creating connections to nearby Neighborhood Greenways, transit services, community amenities, and neighborhoods for people of all ages and abilities
Schedule
- Planning and design (2023-2025): We will create and share project design proposals, ask for community feedback, and finalize project design.
- Construction (Starting as early as 2026*): We will share more information about construction schedules, activities, and neighborhood impacts when we reach this stage.
*Construction schedules are subject to change based on crew and material availability.
Funding
The estimated cost for the 1st Ave NE Shared-Use Path is $6.3M. Funding is provided by Safe Routes to Schools and other SDOT walking and biking programs.
Project Materials
Nearby projects
- NE 130th St & NE 125th St Mobility and Safety Project
- N 130th St Vision Zero Safety Project
- N 130th St West Project (website coming soon)
- Sound Transit’s NE 130th St Infill Station
- Sound Transit/SDOT’s 5th Ave NE Shared Use Path Project (website coming soon)
- King County Metro Lynnwood Link Connections (Service Restructure)
- SPU Lake City Floodplain Park
- N 130th St and Ashworth Ave N Safety Enhancements