6th Ave NW Neighborhood Greenway
Updated: November 8, 2024
What's Happening Now?
We are excited to announce that construction on the 6th Ave NW Neighborhood Greenway is complete!
Thank you for coming out to our celebration event, it was great to see so many neighbors excited about the new greenway.
We had over 70 residents join us in a bike ride along the greenway led by Councilmember Dan Strauss and SDOT Director Greg Spotts.
This new Neighborhood Greenway enhances safe access for people walking, biking, and rolling in the area. The route connects to West Woodland Elementary School and the existing Neighborhood Greenway on NW 58th St.
The south end of the 6th Ave NW Neighborhood Greenway connects to a crossing signal at NW 43rd St across Leary Way NW. This signal provides a popular way to access the Burke-Gilman Trail from the Phinney Ridge, West Woodland, and Fremont neighborhoods.
The improvements include:
- Improved crossing of NW Market St
- New accessible curb ramps
- Signal activation for people biking
- Concrete islands to separate people biking from vehicles
- Median diverter to prioritize people walking and biking
- Safety improvements connecting to the Burke Gilman Trail
- Improved access to signal activation push buttons for people biking, concrete barrier between bikes and vehicles
- New painted curb bulb and intersection striping at Leary Way NW, NW 43rd St and 7th Ave NW
- New wayfinding signs to alert people biking to the greenway route
- Along the Neighborhood Greenway
- Speed humps to calm traffic
- All way stops where the neighborhood greenway turns and stop signs for side streets crossing the neighborhood greenway
- Special attention to NW 50th St where neighbors told us there were high volumes of cut through traffic
- Intersection daylighting to improve safety
- Replacement of concrete panels to improve safety for people biking
- New signs and pavement markings to help people find their way
- Tree trimming in some places to maintain sight clearance for new signs
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Project Overview
In early 2019, the Ballard, Phinney Ridge, West Woodland, and Fremont communities proposed developing a segment of 6th Ave NW as a neighborhood greenway. They envisioned a route connecting residents to nearby schools, parks, and businesses as well as the citywide transportation network, including the Burke-Gilman Trail. The community submitted their idea to the Your Voice Your Choice program. In September 2019, the public voted to prioritize District 6 funds for the project.
The new neighborhood greenway will bring affordable active transportation options for people of all ages and abilities. The south end of the 6th Ave NW Neighborhood Greenway will connect to a crossing signal at NW 43rd St across Leary Way NW. Pedestrian and bicycle improvements at this crossing were funded by Neighborhood Parks and Street Fund money in 2015. The signal provides a popular way to access the Burke-Gilman Trail from the Phinney Ridge, West Woodland, and Fremont neighborhoods.
In early 2023, the Your Voice Your Choice program completed its work by installing speed humps and adding/adjusting "Stop" signs for the east-west cross streets.
Learn more about the projects we have coordinated with:
- Your Voice Your Choice District 6 Projects
Proposed Intersection Improvements
NW Market St at 6th/5th Ave NW
Improve existing crossing signal for people walking, biking and rolling across NW Market St
- Install curb ramps
- Improve ability for people biking to cross NW Market St by installing
- Bike push buttons
- Bike waiting zones separated from vehicle traffic with shielding islands
- Revise vehicle operation to right in / right out only for 6th Ave NW and 5th Ave NW through the extension of the existing median island and updating signs and pavement markings
- Mailboxes on the SE corner will be relocated to improve accessibility from the sidewalk
NW 50th St at 6th Ave NW
Improvements for the safety of people biking, rolling, and walking through this offset intersection
- Add new speed humps on NW 50th St and 6th Ave NW to slow down approaching traffic
- Add painted curb bulbs
- Add new stop signs
*Click here or on the image above to view at a larger size
Leary Way NW at NW 43rd St
These intersection improvements were completed in Spring 2024:
- Improve safe access for people biking to the existing bicycle push button by adding a protected bike lane in the eastbound direction
- Refresh pavement markings and signs to clarify allowable vehicle movements
- Add bike dots on the crosswalk
- Add one painted curb bulb and stop sign on the SE corner of NW 43rd St and 7th Ave NW
- No change to vehicle access or movements
A woman pushing a stroller and a bicyclist use the new safety improvements to cross.
What is a Neighborhood Greenway?
Neighborhood greenways are safer, calmer residential streets for you, your family, and neighbors. We make people walking and biking the priority. The new neighborhood greenway will bring affordable, active transportation options for all ages and abilities.
Neighborhood greenways can include:
- 20 mph speed limit signs
- speed humps to calm traffic
- stop signs for side streets crossing the neighborhood greenway
- signs and pavement markings to help people find their way
- easier crossings of busy streets with crosswalks, curb bulbs, flashing beacons, or traffic signals
Materials
- 6th Ave Factsheet_Revised (February 2024)
- 6th Ave Mailer (December 2023)
- 6th Ave NW Neighborhood Greenway Mailer (January 2020)