Ballard Ave Mobility and Access Improvements

Updated July 25, 2022

What's happening now?

SDOT is moving towards installation of the interim improvements at the beginning of August 2022. Please see plan details below for more information on what to expect. If you have comments or questions about parking and loading on/near Ballard Ave NW between 20th and 22nd Avenues NW, please contact us.

Project Background and Purpose

During the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants and other businesses built curbspace cafes, or pergolas, within the roadway on Ballard Ave under the Safe Starts Permit Program. SDOT is planning to make pedestrian-focused and business-friendly interim street improvements to Ballard Ave NW between 20th Ave NW and 22nd Ave NW around these structures. These changes will include formalizing one-way traffic flow, clarifying load zones and parking areas, installing new traffic signage and curb bulbs, improving the sidewalk environment, and removing redundant and/or temporary signage.

This effort builds on the temporary changes made to Ballard Ave NW in 2020, which converted the street along these two blocks into a one-way design and designated space in the public right of way for curbspace cafes. In 2021, through a Design Charette hosted by Councilmember Strauss, we met with Ballard community members and businesses to hear their feedback about the changes. They told us the changes improved the experience for customers and visitors and made business deliveries easier. They also asked us to help improve safety for people walking and de-clutter signs in the area. Charette recommendations were broken into three segments: short-term improvements, interim policies and allowances, and long-term permanent policies, standards, and design. The Mobility and Access Improvements are the implementation of the short-term improvements developed during the Design Charrette.

This project gives us the ability to test ideas, get feedback, and then create and refine policies citywide. After this initial project, Councilmember Strauss will host another Design Charette to reflect on what has worked well, and what needs to be revised for the interim improvements, and the long term design of the street and café structures.

Project Area

Described from the Leary side of Ballard Ave NW over to the Shilshole side, the formalizing changes are:

In most locations, maintain existing loading and parking on the Leary side of Ballard Ave NW. Minor changes will occur near intersections and will be reviewed with the adjacent business(es)
One northbound travel lane
Designated loading adjacent to cafes on the Shilshole side where space and access to the sidewalk allows. Most loading is planned as commercial/truck vehicles only between 6 AM and 3 PM, with general 5-minute load/unload at other hours
On the Shilshole side of Ballard Ave NW, most existing parking between café structures will remain but will be aligned at the edge of the cafes to ease access to these spaces.

Other improvements:

To improve pedestrian visibility at crossings, interim curb bulbs will be designed with paint, post, and planters.
22nd Ave NW and Vernon Pl will become all-way stop intersections for vehicles.
Flexible porous surface treatment will be installed around most existing street trees to provide a firm and level walking surface.