1st Ave NE Shared-Use Path

Updated January 20, 2026

What's Happening Now?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions and read below to get more information about the project. Please reach out if you have any questions or comments.

Project Overview

As part of the Safe Routes to School program, we are building a shared-use path for people walking, biking, rolling, and scooting on 1st Ave NE between NE 130th St and NE 120th St. This new path creates a safe and comfortable place for people of all ages and abilities to get to James Baldwin Elementary School and Northacres Park. It also creates connections to future walking and biking improvements on NE 130th St to help people get to Sound Transit’s upcoming Pinehurst Station and new bus service from King County Metro.

Project elements include:

New 12-ft wide concrete shared-use path for people walking, biking, rolling, and scooting on the east side of 1st Ave NE from NE 130th St to NE 120th St
Raised crossing at NE 125th St to keep people walking, biking, rolling, and scooting at path level
New all-way stop at NE 120th St for safer access to James Baldwin Elementary (installed Spring 2025)
A new crosswalk at NE 128th St for access to Northacres Park and to connect to the N 128th St Walkway
Improvements to the 1st Ave NE and NE 130th St intersection to make it easier and safer to get to Sound Transit's upcoming Pinehurst Station
Speed cushions to help calm traffic
New curb ramps that comply with Americans with Disabilities (ADA) standards (in some locations)
Lighting to improve visibility for path users and people entering/exiting driveways
Public art on the shared-use path designed by students at James Baldwin Elementary (to be designed and installed after construction of the path)

Project Design

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Tree Removal

We are removing a limited number of trees to make room for the path and provide new, safe connections to nearby schools, parks, transit, and neighborhood destinations. In accordance with the One Seattle Tree Plan, we will plant up to 3 new trees for each one removed. New trees will be planted along the project area, in areas across Seattle with low canopy cover to address urban heat islands and unmitigated stormwater issues, and/or in high opportunity areas like publicly owned rights-of-way and parks. Replacement trees are a diverse selection of native and climate-adapted trees that ultimately contribute to a future tree canopy that better withstands changing weather, disease, and invasive insects.

Northacres Park

We expect to remove 3 trees along the park edge. Arborists from SDOT and Seattle Parks and Recreation worked together to evaluate trees for removal and ensure the path design minimizes impacts in Northacres Park.

We adjusted the project design to narrow the street lanes at the intersection of 1st Ave NE and NE 130th St so the path can be shifted over and minimize removing mature trees along the park.
We evaluated shifting the path into Northacres Park rather than along 1st Ave NE to avoid tree removal. This alternative was not selected because of safety concerns for people walking through wooded areas after dark, when the park is closed.

Street Trees

We expect to remove up to 12 trees south of Northacres Park within the public right of way. Many of these trees are already topped because of overhead power lines. Part of the project requires relocating utility poles, which has an added benefit of moving lines away from the remaining trees and reducing the need for future topping for clearance.

Project Background

The 1st Ave NE Shared-Use Path project is the result of community feedback that identified a need for improved safety and accessibility between Northacres Park and James Baldwin Elementary School (formerly Northgate Elementary School). We heard community priorities through the NE 130th St Shoreline Multimodal Access Study and in direct conversations with area stakeholders such as James Baldwin Elementary. Community priorities included:

Sidewalks on 1st Ave NE between NE 120th St and NE 130th St
Safe Routes to School for the new James Baldwin Elementary School (formerly Northgate Elementary School)
Crossing improvements at the intersection of NE 125th St and 1st Ave NE
Provide connections to and through Northacres Park

Schedule

Schedule graphic showing 60% design phase

Planning and design (in progress): We’re sharing the project design, asking for community feedback, and finalizing the project design.

Construction: We expect to start construction as soon as mid-2026.

*Construction schedules are subject to change based on crew and material availability.

Funding

Funding is provided by Safe Routes to Schools, New Sidewalks program, and other SDOT walking and biking programs.

Project Materials

Frequently Asked Questions (Fall 2025)