North 110th Street to North 145th Street Project

Revised September 5, 2007

Update for Phase 1 (N 137th to N 145th Streets) of the Aurora Ave. North Improvements Project

Mayor Greg Nickels and the City of Seattle Department of Transportation have decided to revise the Aurora Ave. North Improvements Project design. The revised design is as follows:

• 8.5 ft. wide amenity zones (sidewalk, utility, and landscaping area)
• 11 ft. wide general purpose lanes (two each direction)
• 10 ft. wide raised median with breaks for left turns and U-turns
• 11 ft. wide business access and transit lanes (one each direction)

If you have questions about this project or the design process please contact Project Manager Ken Lee at 206.684.3514 or Ken.Lee@seattle.gov.

In 2001 the City of Seattle's Department of Transportation (SDOT) teamed with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and King County Metro Transit to develop recommendations for Seattle's State Route 99 North corridor (also known as Aurora Avenue). The team looked at the entire corridor from the north end of the Battery Street Tunnel to North 145th Street in Shoreline.

Today, SDOT is taking the lead on beginning preliminary engineering and environmental review of the corridor study's "North Focus Area" from North 110th Street to North 145th Street.

Proposed Improvements

• Construct sidewalks and landscaping on both sides of Aurora Avenue North
• Improve pedestrian crossings at intersections
• Add a southbound business access and transit (BAT) lane
• Add a raised median, series of medians, or central lane with defined left-turns and u-turns
• Widen roadway

Key Project Benefits

• A more reliable commute - A new business access and transit (BAT) lane means bus users and commuters will be able to travel along Aurora Avenue more easily and efficiently. The BAT lane will also support future implementation of bus rapid transit (BRT).
• A pedestrian-friendly corridor - Residents and shoppers will be able to walk along Aurora Avenue and feel much safer due to continuous sidewalks and improved crossings.
• Improved safety - Clearly defined turning locations will help decrease the number of accidents and injuries in the project area.

Project Vision
Improve safety for all users, provide more reliable transit operations, enhance the pedestrian environment with sidewalks, and reduce the type and severity of accidents on Aurora Avenue North between N 110th Street and N 145th Street as well as improve the economic vitality of the corridor.