1st Ave S & S Massachusetts St

SDOT has completed a technical analysis of the unsignalized marked crosswalk at 1st Avenue South and South Massachusetts Street . This crosswalk no longer meets city safety guidelines and will be removed.

Before deciding to remove this marked crosswalk, SDOT considered:

• reducing the number of travel lanes; and

• installing a traffic signal.

Because of the current traffic volume and the importance of 1st Ave S as a vehicle travel route, SDOT is not recommending a reduction in the number of travel lanes.

Further, this is not an appropriate place for a new signal. To meet federal standards for a pedestrian signal, a location requires 100 pedestrians an hour for a four-hour period, or 190 pedestrians in a single hour. This location does not have that volume of pedestrians.

Once this crosswalk is removed, the preferred pedestrian crossings for this section of 1st Ave S will be at the signalized intersection of 1st Ave S and Edgar Martinez Drive to the north and 1st Ave and S Holgate Street to the south. It is also important to note that, according to Washington state law, a legal pedestrian crossing exists at every intersection regardless of whether or not a crosswalk is marked. Thus, pedestrians will continue to have a legal right to cross at this location.

For the safety of our crews who must work in traffic, and to reduce the impact on mobility in the area, this work may take place in the early morning hours or on a weekend.

If you have questions or comments about the removal of this crosswalk, please call SDOT’s comment line at (206) 615-1608 or email us at walkandbike@seattle.gov.