NE 65th St Vision Zero Project

Last updated: September 17, 2018

What’s happening now?

The NE 65th Vision Zero Project began as a collaborative effort to identify traffic calming, signal, and safety enhancements to make 65th a safer corridor for all modes of travel. In 2017, we implemented short-term safety improvements and the project is on-schedule for implementation this summer. This project is part of Seattle's commitment to Vision Zero, our plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

Project Update - September 17, 2018

Construction on NE 65th St between 39th Ave NE and NE Ravenna Blvd has begun. Work started in late August and is expected to last through the end of the year.

What to expect during construction

  • Typical weekday work hours are 7 AM-5 PM, with the potential for night work
  • One lane of traffic open in each direction at all times with no lane closures on University of Washington football game days
  • Temporary, on-street parking restrictions (please note that the on-street parking removal between Ravenna Blvd-20th will be permanent)
  • Short-term lane, side street, and driveway closures during when we're painting new stripes on the street
  • Pedestrian detours around work zones
  • Construction noise, dust, and vibration

You will be able to access your home, property, or business at all times. We'll talk to you if a short-term driveway closure is needed for construction. Remember to eat, shop, and play on 65th during construction. Thank you for your continued patience during construction and for traveling slowly and safely in work zones.

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Project Overview

NE 65th St is an arterial that moves people and goods throughout northeast Seattle. The street supports a diverse collection of retail shopping, restaurants, schools, parks, and activity centers. The Roosevelt Link Light Rail station will bring additional activity to the street in 2021.

Since 2012, there have been 3 fatalities, 1 serious injury, and 231 collisions along this busy corridor between NE Ravenna Blvd and 39th Ave NE. Seattle is committed to Vision Zero, our plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. In June 2016, Councilmember Rob Johnson and members of the community marched along NE 65th St, and asked the city to study the corridor. Community concerns are explained further at #Fix65th. After working together with the community, we identified and designed various features to enhance safety. Some of these features include traffic calming devices, signal modifications, pavement repair, and pedestrian and bicycle upgrades. Safety is our number one priority, and we are committed to preventing crashes and improving safety for all travelers.

The project will implement permanent changes to enhance safety on NE 65th St, between NE Ravenna Blvd and 39th Ave NE. See the highlights below or check the map for more information.

Ravenna Blvd to 20th

  • One vehicle travel lane in each direction
  • Center turn lanes
  • Protected bike lanes on both sides of 65th between Ravenna Blvd-20th
  • No on-street parking
  • New transit islands at
    • Oswego Pl and 14th Ave NE (westbound)
    • 8th Ave NE and 16th Ave NE (eastbound)
  • Phased implementation for the block between Roosevelt and 12th, adjacent to the future light rail station, in coordination with Sound Transit. The interim design includes buses merging with the bike lane at the two stops on this block.

20th to 39th

  • All-day on-street parking
  • Lane restriping to clarify one lane in each direction
  • No bike lanes

This image depicts specific design changes to NE 65th St. NE Ravenna Blvd to Roosevelt Way NE and 12th Ave NE to 20th Ave NE designs include: One vehicle travel lane in each direction, center turn lanes, protected bike lanes on both sides of NE 65th St between Ravenna Blvd-20th, extra lane space to pass buses at transit stops, no on-street parking. Roosevelt Way NE to 12th Ave NE designs include: Phased improvements in coordination with Sound Transit, which include; in-lane transit stops and no on-street parking. Improved crossings (site specific - curb bulbs, curb ramps, crosswalks, signal enhancements) will be located at: 15th Ave NE/ NE 65th St, 20th Ave NE/ NE 65th St, 20th Ave NE/ NE 68th St, 25th Ave NE/ NE 68th St. 20th Ave NE to 39th Ave NE designs include: All-day on-street parking, no bike lanes, lane restriping. The project will also include new transit islands located at: NE corner of NE 65th St/ Oswego Pl (westbound), SW corner of NE 65th St/ 8th Ave NE (eastbound), NW corner of NE 65th St/ 14th Ave NE (westbound), SE corner of NE 65th St/ 16th Ave NE(eastbound). Additionally, there will be bus stops at the NW corner of NE 65th St/12th Ave NE (westbound) and at the SE corner of NE 65th St/Roosevelt Way NE (eastbound). It’s likely that these locations will receive transit islands in the future (during the Link station street improvements), but for now, we’ll install an interim design (no transit island, buses will merge with bike lane and pull to curb).

View enlarged map

Last year, we also heard from the community about the new transit island design and plan to work on an education campaign during and after implementation so everyone - people driving, walking, biking, or taking the bus - understands how the space was designed and knows how to use it. The rendering below details a transit stop, its features and illustrates their functions.

Outreach & Schedule

In 2013, we conducted outreach to help update Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan. At that time we committed to working with the community to identifying transportation solutions for NE 65th St prior to implementing changes. We launched this effort in February 2017.

July-December 2018

Implement corridor wide improvements

January 2018

Designs completed 

Completed designs shared with the community

December 2017

Public drop-in sessions held to share updated design

November 2017

Preferred corridor-wide plans identified

Continued outreach to corridor stakeholders

May 2017

Second community forum held to review possible concepts and feedback on what to include in the final concept

March 2017

Short-term safety improvements implemented

February 2017

NE 65th St Vision Zero project, and community outreach and engagement launched

2013

Conducted outreach to help update Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan 

Committed to identifying transportation solutions for NE 65th St with the community prior to implementing changes

Funding

This project is funded by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015.

Materials

Design Outreach Materials

2nd Neighborhood Transportation Forum

1st Neighborhood Transportation Forum

Get Involved

We are dedicated to frequent and timely updates throughout the process. Subscribe to our email list by using the form on the right sidebar or at the bottom of this page, to receive the latest project news and updates.

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