5th Ave NE and Banner Way NE

The intersection of 5th Ave NE and NE Banner Way is famous in Seattle for being a challenging, busy four-way-stop. During community engagement for the Seattle Transportation Plan, we heard from many residents how this intersection wasn’t working well. Drivers were confused and frustrated, and people walking, rolling, and biking went out of their way to avoid it because it didn’t feel safe. The 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy delivery plan included an upgrade to this intersection due to popular demand.   

We want to make our streets safer for everyone who walks, bikes, or rolls. Protected bike lanes physically separate people biking from vehicle traffic, which reduces the chance of crashes. This supports our Vision Zero goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets. 

The Seattle Transportation Plan (STP), the City's long-range plan for our streets, names 5th Ave NE as a priority biking corridor. The Seattle City Council unanimously adopted this plan in April 2024. The plan identified 5th Ave NE as a priority for protected bike lanes based on community input and the need for safe north-south connections over I-5. 

We are adding these bike lanes now because SDOT's Complete Streets Policy directs us to use project opportunities, like installing a new traffic signal, to deliver safety improvements for people who walk, bike, roll, and take transit. Building these improvements today also helps us prepare our streets for the future.  

The proposed bike lane upgrades on 5th Ave NE would connect to existing bike lanes on 5th Ave NE, south of NE 76th St and north of NE 80th St. This would be a key connection over I-5 between Green Lake and residential areas in northeast Seattle.

The proposed bike lanes on Banner Way NE will connect to the 80th St overpass and tie into existing bike lanes on NE 75th St, which is a key east/west route. 

These turns are restricted because they would cause delays and backups at the intersection, and because larger vehicles wouldn’t be able to make the turn without going into the bike lane or the oncoming travel lane. To improve traffic flow and increase safety, we recommend using the alternative route shown in the graphics above. 

Yes, signal timing at this intersection can be adjusted. We will monitor traffic at all three intersections after the new signal is operational and adjust timing as needed to support traffic flows by time of day. 

Yes. The signal will operate under a “split phase,” meaning that all southbound movements (through traffic, right turns, and left turns) will have their own green light for a dedicated signal phase. Northbound movements (through traffic, right turns, and left turns) will also have a dedicated signal phase. Northwest-bound and southeast-bound traffic will travel through the intersection at the same time. After looking into many different signal phasing options based on vehicle volumes, this one was chosen because it reduces delay and improves safety the most.     

We are evaluating whether speed cushions are possible on 5th Ave NE. 

Speed cushions are a traffic-calming tool that slow passenger vehicles while still allowing larger vehicles, like buses and emergency responders, to pass through. We will share more information as the design progresses. 

Yes, you can park in your driveway in front of your garage as long as your vehicle does not obstruct the sidewalk. You cannot park in front of or within five feet of your driveway curb cut.