Home Zone: Rainier View
Updated: August, 2023
Current Status
We are seeking public input on the Rainier View Draft Home Zone via a survey. The survey will be available August through November 2023.
Take the survey here!
We plan to start construction on a select number of projects sometime between late 2023 and early 2024. These planned improvements can be viewed here. We will share additional design and construction information soon!
Draft Home Zone
Background
The goal of a Home Zone is to make it easier to walk and to improve the overall quality of life in a neighborhood. A Home Zone prioritizes projects co-created with the community. The Rainier View Home Zone began in 2021 with a series of community walks.
Over the last year, we worked with the Rainier View steering committee to create the Draft Home Zone. The biggest concerns were missing sidewalks, speeding, and a desire for more open space. We are proposing two different designs to improve walking in the Rainier View Neighborhood. These are Alternative Walkways and Dedicated Pedestrian Space.
An informational flyer with an overview of the Rainer View Home Zone process and planned improvements has been mailed to many residents. That flyer can be viewed here.
A Home Zone typically has $200,000 for neighborhood improvements.
Through collaboration with other programs including Safe Routes to School and the Pedestrian Master Plan, there is over $2 million dollars for improvements to Rainier View.
In addition, the Seattle City Council set aside money for pedestrian and traffic safety improvements in the Rainier Valley. The Rainier View Home Zone nearly 500,000 of the City Council money, which will help fund the following alternative walkways:
- 53rd Ave S from S Leo St to S Avon St
- S Avon St from Beacon Ave S to Luther Ave S
- S Leo St from Beacon Ave S to 56th Ave S
There is not enough money to fund all projects identified as a priority. These projects may be constructed in the future as funds become available. The unfunded projects can be viewed here
Seattle Blocks
Over 11,000 blocks citywide currently have no sidewalks. This is nearly 25% of the city’s blocks. Each new sidewalk is a major undertaking, requiring significant time and funds. Completing the pedestrian network with traditional sidewalks will take hundreds of years.
Typical Residential Street Without Sidewalk
What are alternative walkways?
Alternative walkways respond to the high cost of a traditional raised concrete sidewalk. Alternative walkways are about ¼ the cost of a traditional sidewalk. These walkways are typically constructed with asphalt and are separated from vehicles with a planting strip and pre-cast concrete curbs. Parking is generally included on at least one side of the street and this results in a narrower roadway, which slows traffic and increases pedestrian comfort.
Typical alternative walkway
What are pedestrian lanes?
Pedestrian lanes are another alternative to traditional sidewalks. Pedestrian lanes are about 1/10th the cost of a traditional sidewalk. Pedestrian lanes involve installation of precast concrete curbs on the existing roadway. Parking is restricted to only one side of the street and access to driveways is maintained. Where feasible, planting and trees are included to improve the neighborhood and pedestrian experience. This treatment does not preclude future improvements of an alternative walkway or a traditional sidewalk.
Typical pedestrian lane
Prior Home Zone Drafts
Additional Resources
Curious about what a Home Zone means for your neighborhood? Take a look at the Home Zone Toolkit to see the kinds of projects that may be possible