Alaskan Way Safety Project

Creating a safer and more accessible route along Seattle's central waterfront

January 30, 2024

Project Overview

This project will be making several safety improvements to Alaskan Way from Virginia St to Broad St. The proposed safety elements include:

• A continuous 0.6-mile street-level protected bike lane on the west side of Alaskan Way between Virginia St and Broad St. A continuous west side protected bike lane provides a more intuitive connection for people biking by minimizing the crossings included in the original concept.
  • An east side, two-way shared path from Blanchard St to Wall St will be installed for use on sailing days, when the west side protected bike lane in front of Pier 66 is closed.
• Lane reductions in this section of Alaskan Way, going from two northbound and two southbound vehicle lanes to one lane in each direction. This change is closely aligned with findings from SDOT’s Vision Zero Review, which showed that reducing lanes on multi-lane arterial roads slows people speeding and makes it safer for pedestrians. The street will continue to support freight movement and the changing traffic patterns resulting from Waterfront activities.
• Intersection safety improvements include adding Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) to make people more visible to those driving, bike traffic signals, No Turn on Red signs, shorter pedestrian crossing distance, and adding vehicle left turn lanes at select intersections. 
• Sidewalk repair and updating ADA-compliant curb ramps along the project corridor to improve access for people walking and rolling. 

In August 2023, the City of Seattle, Port of Seattle, and philanthropist Melinda French Gates announced the launch of the Elliott Bay Connections (EBC), a public-private partnership that will construct a new greenway and park improvements along the Seattle Waterfront. The project will include biking and walking connections between the Seattle Waterfront and Olympic Sculpture Park, on the east side of Alaskan Way. This is a separate effort from the Alaskan Way Safety Project but will complement the safety enhancements and west side protected bike lane that the Alaskan Way Safety Project has designed. SDOT has and will continue to coordinate closely with Elliott Bay Connections during design and construction of the Alaskan Way Safety Project.

Project Background

Seattle Department of Transportation is enhancing safety with a number of improvements on Alaskan Way for people walking, biking, driving, and visiting Seattle's waterfront. The Alaskan Way Safety, Waterfront Seattle, Ocean Pavilion, and Elliott Bay Connections projects will work together to reimagine the Seattle Waterfront.

The Alaskan Way Safety Project will create seamless connections for people biking between the new Seattle Waterfront and the Olympic Sculpture Park and will enhance safety and accessibility along this critical arterial through intersection improvements, lane changes, and sidewalk and curb ramp repair. In addition, this project will redesign Alaskan Way to enhance safety for all users, respond to changing traffic patterns following the opening of Elliott Way, and support sailing operations at Pier 66 and 69. We are currently at 90% design and have a refined concept for the project. View the concept and more details below.

With the new roadway changes and improvements being constructed on Alaskan Way including a two-way protected bike lanes as part of the Waterfront Seattle project, we have an opportunity to build a bike connection between this future facility from Virginia St and the existing Elliott Bay Trail at Broad St via Alaskan Way. When complete, the project will connect the Waterfront Park Promenade and Bike Path to the Elliott Bay Trail, providing a continuous all ages and abilities bike facility along Seattle's central waterfront. Additionally, it will connect to the Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion expansion, projected for completion in late 2024.

Project Map

Refined Concept at 90% Design

Changes since 60% design:

• Street-level protected bike lane in front of Pier 66 (west side of Alaskan Way from Blanchard St to Wall St) on non-sailing days
• Upgraded traffic signal at Blanchard St (to full traffic signal for all directions at this intersection)
• Widened segments of west side protected bike lanes from 10 feet to 12 feet
• Updated plans for removable bollards in front of Pier 66

(Above) Map showing continuous west side, two-way protected bike lane on non-sailing days.

(Above) Map showing east side detour from Blanchard St to Wall St via shared path on sailing days.

Existing conditions on Alaskan Way

Cross-section of continuous west side, two-way protected bike lane - between Virginia St and Blanchard St, and between Wall St and Broad St. 

Cross-section of west side, two-way protected bike lane in front of Pier 66 (Blanchard St - Wall St) on non-sailing days

Graphic showing operation of Alaskan Way on typical non-sailing day. People biking can use west side, two-way protected bike lane with fixed bollards between bike lane and sidewalk, and removable bollards between bike lane and parking lane.

Cross-section of east side shared path detour in front of Pier 66 (Blanchard St - Wall St) on sailing days

Graphic showing operation of Alaskan Way on typical sailing day. People biking will be detoured to the east side shared path between Blanchard St and Wall St. The outer bollards of the protected bike lane will be removed to allow vehicles to use this space for dropping off or picking up passengers.

Bike crossing at Blanchard St

Graphic showing diagonal bike crossing at Blanchard St to get on/off the east side detour on sailing days when the protected bike lane is closed in front of Pier 66 at Blanchard St. Bike dots will be installed on the east side of Alaskan Way to direct people biking onto the shared path, and the signal will be upgraded to a full traffic signal.

Bike crossing at Wall St

Graphic showing bike crossing along west side of Alaskan Way at Wall St on non-sailing days and diagonal crossing on sailing days to connect to east-side detour.

What are protected bike lanes?

A protected bike lane is an exclusive bike facility that combines the user experience of a separated path with the on-street infrastructure of a conventional bike lane. A protected bike lane is physically separated from motor traffic and distinct from the sidewalks.

These lanes have different forms but all share common elements - they provide space that is intended to be exclusively or primarily used for bicycles, and are separated from motor vehicle travel lanes, parking lanes, and sidewalks. Learn more at our protected bike lane page.

Funding

This project is funded in part by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015, Puget Sound Regional Council, and Washington State Department of Transportation.

Schedule

We anticipate reaching final design by early 2024, followed by construction beginning later in 2024.

Project materials

• 90% design virtual public meeting recording (December 2023)
• 90% design virtual public meeting Q&A summary (January 2024)
• Presentation to Seattle Freight Advisory Board (December 2023)
• Presentation to Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board (December 2023)
• 90% design roll plot (December 2023)
• 90% design plans (December 2023)
• 60% design virtual public meeting recording (September 2023)
• 60% design virtual public meeting Q&A summary (September 2023)
• 60% design roll plot (September 2023)
• 60% design plans (September 2023)
• Presentation to Historic Waterfront (August 2023)
• Presentation to Seattle Freight Advisory Board (July 2023)
• Presentation to Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board (July 2023)
• 30% design plans (July 2023)
• Online open house Q&A summary (May 2022)
• Online open house mailer (April 2022)

Other nearby projects

• Waterfront Seattle
  • Alaskan Way
    • Park Promenade + Bike Path
• 1st Ave and Broad St Complete Street Extension (completed)
• Seattle Center to Waterfront Walking and Biking Connection (completed)