12th Ave Vision Zero Safety Corridor
Updated: August 2026
The 12th Ave Vision Zero Safety Corridor is a major effort to make 12th Ave safer for everyone traveling through Capitol Hill, the Central District, and Little Saigon. The corridor runs from E Aloha St to S Charles St. 12th Ave was identified in the 2015 Seattle Transportation Levy and is a priority area in the 2024 Seattle Transportation Plan. It is also part of Seattle’s High Injury Network and includes several intersections identified in the Bike and Pedestrian Safety Analysis.
We’ve made safety upgrades along 12th Ave over the past several years, and additional improvements are underway. This page provides an overview of the treatments already installed, upcoming spot improvements, and links to corridor projects that include bike facilities.
Safety Projects Overview
Phase 1 (completed in 2021): Added protected bike lanes and other safety upgrades from S Charles St, across the Dr. José Rizal Bridge, to the S King St Neighborhood Greenway in the Little Saigon neighborhood.
Phase 2 (2026-2027): Will design and build protected bike lanes and other improvements from S King St to E Yesler Way.
Phase 3: In early planning phase for protected bike lanes from E Yesler Way to E Madison St. (more information to come)
When all phases are complete, there will be a protected bike connection between Beacon Hill to Capitol Hill, running from the Dr. José Rizal Bridge to E Madison St. This supports a key goal to expand and protect the bike network in the Seattle Transportation Plan.
Over the last decade, we’ve installed a range of safety enhancements along 12th Ave. Recent work includes:
- In 2024-2025 safety treatments from E Aloha St to S Main St:
- Improved intersection visibility with updated striping and signage
- Added “No Turn on Red” signs at signalized intersections
- Upgraded stop signs to high-visibility versions with reflective tape
- Updated pedestrian signals to include leading pedestrian intervals (head starts) and countdowns where need
- Refreshed crosswalk markings
- Installed larger traffic signal heads where possible
- Added yellow reflective tape to signal heads for better visibility
- Implemented restricted turns and dedicated turn signal phases at 12th Ave S and E Yesler Way
- In 2026:
- Installed pedestrian-scale lighting in the Chinatown-International District
- Plan to add new southbound bike box and updated pedestrian signal at 12th Ave S and E Yesler Way
12th Ave S and S Main St
We’ve applied for a grant to build a half-signal crossing at S Main St, which could be constructed as early as 2029.
Image shows the current conditions at 12th Ave S and S Main St looking north. (SDOT photo)