North Downtown Mobility Action Program
Updated: November 10, 2021
What's happening now?
Select NODO Mobility Action Plan projects are under construction or were completed this year. Please refer to the graphic below for details. Project-specific information and status are provided below, including projects that are or will be constructed around the Climate Pledge Arena in 2021. Project outreach will continue through 2021 or until construction is completed. The street improvements for the Climate Pledge Arena are underway. Please refer to their link for updates.
As the Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center opens and the priority projects are constructed, SDOT continues to reassess the improvements listed in the December 2019 NODO Mobility Action Plan to determine how to best continue supporting the access and mobility of people living, working, and visiting North Downtown.
2021 Transportation-Related Improvements around NODO MAP Area
*Extent of construction is contingent upon funding availability.
NODO MAP 10 Year Investments
Priority project listings
| NODO Project ID | Name | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1st Ave N and Queen Anne Ave N Complete Streets | Prioritize people taking transit, walking, and bicycling by including transit-only lanes and protected bicycle lanes. Intersection improvements include new signals to improve pedestrian safety, curb bulbs at select intersections, a transit queue jump to benefit transit speed and reliability, and signal upgrades to improve network connectivity through predictable bicycle and vehicular movements. Protected bike lanes on 1st Ave N and Queen Anne Ave N are consistent with the Bicycle Master Plan. | Construction began March 2021; construction completed October 2021. |
| B | 1st Avenue and Broad Street Complete Street Extension | Leverage improvements along 1st Ave N and Queen Anne Ave N to complete the bicycle connection between the 2nd Ave protected bike lane (PBL) and the future 1st Ave N PBL. The project will also upgrade signals to add a new pedestrian crosswalk at 1st Ave and Denny Way, provide bicycle signals, and enhance transit speed and reliability between 3rd Ave and 1st Ave N. | In construction, anticipated completion by end of 2021. |
| C-West | Seattle Center to Waterfront Walking and Biking Connection | Seattle Center to Waterfront Walking and Biking Connection, also known as Thomas Street Greenway West, will construct an all ages and abilities walking and biking connection between the Seattle Center and the Central Waterfront via the Thomas St Overpass. This project will leverage other NODO Project A and Climate Pledge Arena Team improvements along Queen Anne Ave N, 1st Ave N, and Thomas St to improve and highlight the walking and biking connections between some of Seattle's most popular destinations. | Construction began June 2021; construction completed September 2021. |
| C-East | Protected Intersection at Dexter and Thomas | Dexter/Thomas Protected Intersection is an integral component of the Thomas Street: 5th Ave N to Dexter Ave N project. A protected intersection at Dexter Ave N and Thomas St will include diverters to prohibit through vehicle travel across Aurora Ave N (now 7th Ave N) and a new signal. The project is located along Thomas Street Greenway East, which will implement a key element of the community's vision for a pedestrian-and bicycle-friendly Thomas Street Redefined. | In design, construction planned for 2023. |
| D | Pedestrian Improvements in Belltown | Enhance pedestrian safety and comfort in Belltown at 1st Ave and Battery St, a high-priority pedestrian crossing location. Intersection improvements include a new traffic signal, crosswalks, and potential paint-and-post curb bulbs to shorten pedestrian crossing distance and slow turning vehicles. | Construction began 2021, anticipated completion in early 2022. |
| E | Monorail Improvements | Enhance sustainable transportation options, mobility, and convenience for North Downtown residents, workers, and commuters with connections to the Westlake Hub and light rail in downtown. The City Arena Transportation Fund would provide $1 million in seed funding to leverage other partner investments to fund the improvements identified in the Seattle Center Monorail Stations Reconfiguration Evaluation Report (2018). | Seed funding distributed in 2020. Construction completed in 2021. |
| F | SR 99 to Waterfront Access and Mobility | Contribution from the Port of Seattle are proposed to help fund SR 99 to Waterfront Access and Mobility project, which supports freight mobility with upgrades along Broad St and the western portion of Denny Way. The Freight Master Plan identified Denny Way intelligent transportation system (ITS) improvements as a priority project. | In design, construction planned for 2022. |
| G | Denny Way East from 4th Ave N to I-5 | Upgrade 11 signals from 4th Ave N to I-5 to improve operating conditions in this key transit and freight corridor. Upgrades will include updates to signal timing, vehicle detection, and fiber communications to improve traffic flow. | Construction planned to begin November 2021. |
| H | Harrison Street Corridor | Improve four signals between 5th Ave N and Dexter Ave N connecting to the SR 99 north tunnel portal. Harrison St is also a future transit corridor that will benefit from the signal upgrades. | Planning to begin in late 2021. |
| I | 2nd Ave and Denny Way Protected Bike Lane Connection | Re-establish a two-way protected bike lane (PBL) south of Denny Way for one block (130 ft) along 2nd Ave. Will allow two southbound general traffic lanes along 2nd Ave south of Denny Way separated from the sidewalk. | In design; construction began summer 2021. Anticipated completion in early 2022. |
| I | Neighborhood-identified programmatic improvements | Programmatic improvements include pedestrian and bicycle wayfinding; pedestrian improvements at high-priority intersections; pedestrian-scale lighting; and programs on Vision Zero education and encouragement, driver education and enforcement. | Planning to begin in late 2021. |
Related projects/programs
- Thomas Street Redefined proposes significant changes to the 2013 Thomas Green Street Concept Plan because community members felt its implementation did not match the 2013 Plan's original vision. The three main additions include a half block closure at 5th Ave N and Thomas St that would create a public plaza adjacent to the Seattle Center skatepark; the creation of a 36 feet wide pedestrian and bicycle promenade on the north curb; and a protected intersection at Dexter Ave N and Thomas St.
- The Oak View Group is the company that redeveloped the Climate Pledge Arena and select related street improvements in the surrounding neighborhood, which were opened in late October 2021.
Background
The purpose of the North Downtown Mobility Action Plan (NODO MAP) is to support access to and mobility through North Downtown (NODO), which includes Uptown, Belltown, and South Lake Union neighborhoods. This action plan will identify and prioritize transportation improvements for all modes building on existing community planning efforts. The NODO MAP is closely linked to the redevelopment of the Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center. The City of Seattle is working with Oak View Group (OVG) as the Climate Pledge Arena developer on this project.
The draft October 2018 North Downtown Mobility Action Plan was prepared in partnership with the North Downtown neighborhoods through a community outreach process from Fall 2017 to Fall 2018. The plan built on existing community planning efforts; reviewed existing community plans and planned projects; identified ways to improve how we move, connect, and experience our streets and public places; and evaluated and prioritized potential projects.Comments to the draft plan, along with review of the funding strategy, and coordination of improvement of the Climate Pledge Arena and other development in the NODO area were incorporated into the final NODO Mobility Action Plan. The December 2019 final action plan identifies and prioritizes transportation improvements for all modes in the NODO neighborhoods, building on existing community plans, with an emphasis of delivering the priority projects in the next ten years.In partnership with the neighborhoods, the Mobility Action Plan will:
- Review existing community plans and planned projects
- Identify ways to improve how we move, connect, and experience our streets and public places
- Evaluate and prioritize potential projects
- Proceed with implementation of prioritized and approved projects
Funding
As part of the Seattle Center Arena Memorandum of Understanding, Oak View Group (the company redeveloping Seattle Center Arena) will contribute $40 million over 39 years to a City Transportation Fund ($1,025,000 each year, with no allowances for inflation). In addition, SDOT and the Port of Seattle are partnering for freight mobility improvements in the North Downtown area, including the corridors for the Ballard Interbay Manufacturing Industrial Center along the 15th Ave W/Elliott Ave W, Mercer St, and Denny Way corridors. SDOT looked at a number of different ways to fund the projects outlined in the plan, including:
- Assigning various project improvements to leverage existing SDOT funding and use the OVG funding to augment existing funding to complete the improvements.
- Borrowing a large sum (or annual borrowing in a series for a similar amount), then using the OVG funding to service the debt (paying back the borrowed principal, with interest and fees included).
- Using a pay-as-you-go scenario, using the OVG funding to closely match the work being completed on a yearly basis.
- A hybrid approach, using one or more of the methods above based on the best suited approach.
In the end, the hybrid approach seemed to make the most sense for funding these improvements. Based on these assumptions, we anticipate nearly $9 million in improvements being made between now and 2021 - with improvements made on a prioritized basis - and around $28 million in the first 10 years when combined with existing programs, mitigation resources, and other funding sources.
Outreach and engagement
Modal Board Presentations and Outreach
- Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board Letter - April 2021
- Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board Letter - March 2021
- Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board meeting minutes - February 12, 2020
- Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board meeting minutes - February 5, 2020
New Arena Community Coordination Committee Presentations
- New Arena Community Coordination Committee (C3) Presentation - June 3, 2021
- New Arena Community Coordination Committee (C3) Presentation - March 4, 2021
- New Arena Community Coordination Committee (C3) Presentation - November 5,2020
- New Arena Community Coordination Committee (C3) Presentation - June 4, 2020
- New Arena Community Coordination Committee (C3) Presentation - March 5, 2020
- New Arena Community Coordination Committee (C3) Presentation - December 5, 2019
- New Arena Community Coordination Committee (C3) Presentation - August 1, 2019
April 2018 Open House
In April 2018 we held an open house to share the tiered project list. Our prioritization process got us to the tiered project lists below:
- Bicycle map and project description
- Driving and Goods Delivery map and project descriptions
- Pedestrian and Public Realm map and project descriptions
- Transit map and project descriptions
An important input was knowing the upcoming projects in North Downtown. In addition, we shared information on the Transportation Fund and our overall public outreach and anticipated schedule.
March 2018 Community Meetings
In March and early April, we held a community meeting in each of the North Downtown neighborhoods of Uptown, Belltown, and South Lake Union. Below are the boards from the community meeting, including the new project ideas and maps that attendees voted on.
- Project background information
- Guiding Principles evaluation criteria
- Upcoming projects for all modes
- Transit
- Vehicles and Goods Delivery
- Bicycle
- Pedestrian and Public Realm
November 2017 Workshop
Kick-off Feedback and What's Planned
Several maps highlight the feedback we received at the October project kick-off, indicating the hot spots where participants requested improvements. The feedback boards are followed by maps of SDOT's funded projects as well as projects identified in citywide and neighborhood plans. The maps of what we heard and what's planned are displayed by mode: driving and goods delivery, transit, walking, and bicycling.
Building an Evaluation Framework
Feedback we received at the October kick-off about the project's guiding principles was translated into measures we could use to build an evaluation framework. We asked participants at the November Community Workshop to rate potential measures of success for evaluating projects to achieve our guiding principles, or suggest other potential measures.
Walking and Bicycling Tour Maps
Check out the maps for three different walking tours or a biking tour to explore the neighborhoods on your own. Have comments for improvements along the tour routes? Email them to northdowntown@seattle.gov.Click on the following links to see snapshots of what we heard:
Partners
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