Harrison and Mercer Transit Access Project
Transit priority, pedestrian amenities, pavement upgrades, traffic signal adjustments and road layout/curb space modifications, landscaping
Updated: May 2025
What's happening now?
We are planning transit and street improvements along segments of Mercer St, 5th Ave, Harrison St, Fairview Ave N, and Republican St (see Map of Project Area) with construction expected to begin as early as 2026.
Through June, we’ll gather feedback from property and business owners to understand their key access points and operational needs.
Later in the summer, we’ll connect with community members, transit riders, and neighborhood groups to share project updates and gather their feedback on early design concepts.
If you have any questions, please contact us at HarrisonMercer@Seattle.gov.
About the Project
The Seattle Department of Transportation is designing a new east-west transit corridor in South Lake Union, to support faster, more reliable connections to future nearby transit options, like Sound Transit Link Light Rail station and Metro bus routes.
The Harrison and Mercer Transit Access Project will improve connections between South Lake Union and the Uptown/Lower Queen Anne neighborhoods.
This project aligns with King County Metro’s long term transportation plan, called Metro Connects. The goal of this plan is to make transportation more frequent, reliable, and fast in King County by the year 2050.
Why is this Project Important?
The Harrison and Mercer Transit Access Project will improve east-west transit connections to make travel easier and more reliable. As South Lake Union and Uptown continue to grow, the need for dependable public transportation increases. This project supports that growth by making it more convenient and efficient to get around.
This project may include:
Maintenance and Modernization
- Rebuilding roadway areas, including paving and structural foundations when necessary.
- Upgrading drainage system by adding new catch basins and inlets to manage water effectively.
Transit Upgrades
- Adding new transit amenities along 5th Ave N, between Harrison and Mercer streets; and along Mercer St between Queen Anne Ave N and 5th Ave N.
- Transit amenities may include bus lanes, new and upgraded bus stops, and transit signal optimization for buses.
Safety Upgrades
- Installing bus bulbs to provide a designated area for passengers to wait safely for their bus.
- Repairing and widening sidewalks to create more space and improve walkability.
- Enhancing crossings at:
- 8th Ave & Harrison St
- Terry Ave & Harrison St
- Adding Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) that use sounds and tactile signals to help individuals with blindness or low vision cross streets safely.
- Installing curb ramps to meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards, making street crossings easier and safer for people using wheelchairs, strollers, or other mobility aids.
Map of Project Area
Map of Transit Options Connecting to Project Area
Timeline
- Planning (2022-2023): We collected traffic data, developed concepts and gathered community experiences to develop initial 10% plans.
- Design (2023-2025): We’ll collaborate with stakeholders and community members to develop a more detailed final design.
- Construction (as soon as 2026): We will construct the project and keep the community informed on the latest construction updates, schedule, and expected impacts.
Project Materials
- Fact sheet (2025)
Additional projects adjacent that this project is coordinating with:
- Sound Transit South Lake Union Link Station
- Metro Eastlake Layover Facility
- RapidRide J Line
- WSDOT 520-to-Mercer Reversible Transit Ramp
- Thomas St (5th Ave N to Dexter Ave N)
- Denny Way Paving Project
- North Downtown Mobility Action Program
Translation and Interpretation
We’re working to make it easier for you to get around South Lake Union and connect to new transit options. Our Harrison and Mercer streets transit access project will make it easier for you to get between South Lake Union and Uptown. You’ll have faster, more reliable access to future transit options like Link Light Rail and Metro buses when we're done. If you want to learn more, call us at (206) 900-8717. If you need information about the project in another language, tell us your preferred language in English when you call. We offer translation and interpretation for free.
简化字 (Simplified Chinese)
我们正在努力让您更方便地在南联合湖（South Lake Union）出行，并连接到新的交通方式。我们的 Harrison 和 Mercer 公共交通通车项目将让您更轻松地往返于南联合湖和上城区（Uptown）。项目完成后，您将能更快速、更可靠地使用未来的交通方式，如 Link 轻轨和 Metro 公交车。 如果您想了解更多信息，请致电 (206) 900-8717。如果您需要其他语言的项目信息，请在致电时用英语告知我们您想要的语言。我们提供免费的翻译和口译服务。正體字 (Traditional Chinese)
我們正在努力讓您更方便地在南聯合湖（South Lake Union）出行，並連接到新的交通方式。我們的 Harrison 和 Mercer 公共交通通車專案將讓您更輕鬆地往返南聯合湖和上城區（Uptown）。專案完成後，您將能更快速、更可靠地使用未來的交通方式，例如 Link 輕軌和 Metro 公車。如果您想了解更多資訊，請致電 (206) 900-8717。如果您需要其他語言的專案訊息，請在致電時用英語告知我們您想要的語言。我們提供免費的翻譯和口譯服務。！日本語 (Japanese)
私共は、快適なサウス・レイクユニオン地区内の移動と、新しい交通手段への乗継ぎ改善のために、整備工事計画を進めています。ハリソン～マーサー間の交通アクセス整備工事により、サウス・レイクユニオン地区とアップタウン地区の間の移動が今までよりもスムーズになります。工事完了後には、将来設置が予定されているリンクライトレール駅やメトロバス停留所への移動が、スピーディーかつ確実にできるようになります。 詳細については、(206) 900-8717まで電話にてお問い合わせください。この工事に関する情報を英語以外の言語でお受け取りになりたい方は、お電話の際に、ご希望の言語をお知らせください。無料で翻訳（または通訳）をさせていただきます。한국어 (Korean)
교통국은 사우스 레이크 유니언(South Lake Union) 지역에서의 이동과 새로운 대중교통 옵션 이용을 더 쉽게 하기 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 해리슨 및 머서 대중교통 접근 프로젝트(Harrison and Mercer transit access project)를 통해 주민들은 사우스 레이크 유니언과 업타운(Uptown) 사이를 더 쉽게 이동할 수 있게 될 것입니다. 프로젝트가 완료되면 Link 경전철 및 Metro 버스와 같은 향후 대중교통 옵션을 더 빠르고 안정적으로 이용할 수 있게 됩니다. 자세한 정보는 (206) 900-8717로 문의하세요. 다른 언어로 이 정보가 필요한 경우 전화할 때 선호하는 언어를 영어로 알려주십시오. 번역 및 통역 서비스를 무료로 제공해 드리고 있습니다.Español (Spanish)
Estamos trabajando para que le sea más fácil desplazarse por South Lake Union y conectar con nuevas opciones de transporte público. El proyecto en las calles Harrison y Mercer le facilitará el trayecto entre South Lake Union y Uptown, y le permitirá acceder de forma más rápida y confiable a futuros servicios de transporte, como el tren ligero Link y a líneas de autobuses de Metro. Si desea obtener más información, llámenos al (206) 900-8717. Si necesita información sobre el proyecto en otro idioma, indíquenos su idioma preferido en inglés cuando llame. Ofrecemos traducción e interpretación de forma gratuita.Tagalog (Tagalog)
Nagsusumikap kami na gawing mas madali para sa iyo na makalibot sa South Lake Union at kumonekta sa mga bagong pagpipilian sa pagbabiyahe. Ang ating Harrison at Mercer transit access na proyekto ay gagawing mas madali para sa iyo na makarating sa pagitan ng South Lake Union at Uptown. Magkakaroon ka ng mas mabilis, mas maaasahang access sa mga opsyon sa transportasyon sa hinaharap tulad ng Link Light Rail at Metro bus kapag kami ay tapos na. Kung gusto mong matuto nang higit pa, kami ay tawagan sa (206) 900-8717. Kung kailangan mo ng impormasyon tungkol sa proyekto sa ibang wika, sabihin sa amin ang iyong ginustong wika sa Ingles kapag tumawag ka. Kami ay nag-aalok ng pagsasalin at interpretasyon nang libre.हिन्दी (Hindi)
हम आपके लिए साउथ लेक यूनियन में आना-जाना आसान बनाने तथा नए परिवहन विकल्पों से जोड़ने के लिए काम कर रहे हैं। हमारा हैरिसन और मर्सर ट्रांज़िट एक्सेस प्रोजेक्ट आपके लिए साउथ लेक यूनियन और अपटाउन के बीच आना-जाना आसान बना देगा। काम पूरा होने पर आपको लिंक लाइट रेल और मेट्रो बसों जैसे भविष्य के परिवहन विकल्पों तक अधिक तेज और भरोसेमंद पहुँच मिलेगी। अगर आप इस बारे में ज़्यादा जानकारी चाहते हैं, तो हमें (206) 900-8717 पर कॉल करें। अगर आपको प्रोजेक्ट के बारे में जानकारी किसी अन्य भाषा में चाहिए, तो कॉल करते समय हमें अंग्रेजी में अपनी पसंदीदा भाषा बताएँ। हम अनुवाद एवं दुभाषिया सेवाएँ मुफ़्त प्रदान करते हैं।Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
Chúng tôi đang nỗ lực để giúp quý vị di chuyển dễ dàng hơn quanh khu South Lake Union và kết nối với các lựa chọn phương tiện giao thông công cộng mới. Dự án cải thiện khả năng tiếp cận giao thông tại Harrison và Mercer của chúng tôi sẽ giúp quý vị di chuyển dễ dàng hơn giữa khu vực South Lake Union và Uptown. Khi dự án hoàn thành, quý vị sẽ có thể tiếp cận các lựa chọn phương tiện giao thông trong tương lai như tàu điện nhẹ Link Light Rail và các xe buýt Metro một cách nhanh chóng và đáng tin cậy hơn. Nếu quý vị muốn tìm hiểu thêm, vui lòng gọi cho chúng tôi theo số (206) 900-8717. Nếu quý vị cần thông tin về dự án bằng ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng cho chúng tôi biết ngôn ngữ quý vị muốn sử dụng bằng tiếng Anh khi gọi điện. Chúng tôi cung cấp dịch vụ biên dịch và thông dịch miễn phí.