3rd Ave S and S Main St Bus Stop

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March 2024

What's Happening Now?

We’re designing improvements to the bus stop on 3rd Ave S between S Washington St and S Main St to create a safer, more accessible, and more comfortable experience for people waiting for the bus. The project will help improve bus travel times and reliability by creating a better functioning bus stop and repairing and reconfiguring the street.

We wrapping up final design and expect to begin construction in summer 2024. We'll continue to share information about the project and schedule on our webpage and in project email updates.  

Project Overview

We’re designing and implementing this project in partnership with King County Metro. This project was first identified as part of the Third Avenue Transit Corridor Improvement Project, which began in 2015. The Third Avenue Transit Corridor stretches from Denny Way to S Jackson St, connecting Belltown, the Central Business District, and Pioneer Square. 

Each day the Third Avenue Transit Corridor is used by 65,000 people walking and rolling and provides transit connections for people riding the bus throughout the entire city and region. Prior to the pandemic, more than 2,500 buses used Third Avenue, moving more than 100,000 people each day. Currently, about 740 buses serving 24 different bus routes and over 2,600 bus riders use the bus stop at 3rd Ave S and S Main St each weekday. It is King County Metro's 10th busiest stop.  

The existing bus stop at 3rd Ave S and S Main St lacks the accessibility and design features for such a busy bus stop. There are narrow sidewalks (9-11 feet) with no separation from the adjacent parking lot. There is only one bus shelter with limited lighting, no seating, and no electrical power. Improvements at the bus stop will include widening of sidewalks, repainting crosswalks, adding pedestrian lighting, planting new trees, and other bus stop amenities including: 

  • Bus shelters
  • Seating 
  • Real-time bus arrival information 
  • ORCA card reader

To help buses travel more smoothly, we’ll repair the road with new concrete paving and re-configure the street to be southbound only. The existing on-street parking on the east side of the street will remain but the direction will be reversed for the new southbound-only street design. 

As part of this project, Seattle Public Utilities also plans to make storm sewer improvements at 3rd Ave S and S Main St. We will also be repaving 3rd Ave S between Yesler Ave and S Main St. Paving and storm sewer upgrades are planned for 2024, but will happen separately from the other bus stop improvements.   

Project Area

We’re improving the bus stop located on the west side of 3rd Ave S, between S Washington St and S Main St.

A graphic map showing the location of the planned bus stop on the west side of 3rd Ave S, between S Washington St and S Main St. Click for a PDF version.

Existing street design:  

A graphic map indicating existing features of the roadways and blocks around the planned bus stop, including crosswalks, bike only lanes, turn lanes, and the Seattle Union Gospel Mission facilities. Click for a larger PDF version.

Image of damaged street at the existing stop that we will repair with concrete.Pictured above: damaged street that we will repair with concrete.   

A photo taken looking down 3rd at the existing bus stop shelter with a bus at the curb.

Pictured above: people waiting at the existing bus stop

Future street design:  

Image of the improvements to be made at 3rd Ave and S Main St.

For more information about other improvements we're making to 3rd Ave for people walking, biking, and taking transit, visit our 3rd Ave Improvements webpage

Project Schedule

The schedule below shows planned milestones and is subject to change:

  • July 2022: 30% design
  • August 2023: 60% design 
  • October 2023: 90% design
  • Early 2024: Final design 
  • Summer 2024: Construction begins
  • End of 2024: Construction complete 

Funding

This project is largely funded through grants from the Federal Transit Administration.  Funding provided by the FTA will only fund the improvements on 3rd Ave S between S Washington and S Main St. Additional funding sources include Move Seattle Levy, King County Metro and Seattle Public Utilities.

Project Materials

Project materials will be shared as they are developed.

Translation and Interpretation 

If you need this information translated, please call (206) 900-8729   

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Si necesita traducir esta información al español, llame al (206) 900-8729 

Odeeffannoon kun akka siif (206) 900-8729 

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ናይዚ ሓበሬታ ትርጉም እንተደሊኹም፣ በዚ ቁጽሪ ስልኪ ይድውሉ፡ (206) 900-8729 

당신이 번역이 정보를 필요로하는 경우에, (206) 900-8729 ? 전화 해주십시오. 

Related Projects 

Transportation

Greg Spotts, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 3800, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34996, Seattle, WA, 98124-4996
Phone: (206) 684-7623
684-Road@seattle.gov

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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is on a mission to deliver a transportation system that provides safe and affordable access to places and opportunities for everyone as we work to achieve our vision of Seattle as a thriving, equitable community powered by dependable transportation.