Georgetown to South Park Connection

November 22, 2024

Creating a walking and biking connection between Georgetown and South Park

Project Background

We heard the need for better connections between Georgetown and South Park throughout the 2017 Georgetown Mobility Study outreach as well as through community advocacy (check out this video developed by community members). This connection is also identified as important within our Pedestrian Master Plan, Bike Master Plan, Freight Master Plan, Transit Master Plan, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Analysis.

In summer 2019, we collaborated with Duwamish Valley Safe Streets to spread the word about the project and collect input from neighbors on which route we should take to early design. Approximately 400 people participated in sharing feedback and 6 community groups wrote formal letters of support. Based on the input from the survey and community groups, our design team is moving forward with developing design on the following route (see map):

• Georgetown Connection: A walking/biking path on Ellis Ave S, S Albro Pl, and 13th Ave S
• E Marginal Way S Connection: A walking/biking path on the north side of E Marginal Way S
• South Park Connection: One-way protected bike lanes on both sides of 16th Ave S leading to the South Park Bridge

See full outreach summary and results map for more details.

In 2021, our project was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration for construction and reached the 100% design milestone in December as scheduled.

In 2022, we began the environmental review process. The trail passes through historic buildings in Georgetown and sites that may be culturally significant to indigenous peoples near the Duwamish Waterway. To study this, we hired an archaeologist consultant to develop a cultural resources survey which was reviewed and approved by the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. This process took longer than anticipated, delaying the project by 15 months.  

We support and value the environmental review process that ensures we do not interfere with culturally and historically significant areas. the need to understand whether any indigenous or other historic sites exist where we’re going to be working.

In 2023, we began pre-construction activities, including permitting for a section of the project that crosses the complex intersection of 16th Ave S and E Marginal Way S. The design in this area requires further review and permitting to ensure the safety of all travelers in the area. It is not possible to complete this process on our project's original timeline. To help move the project forward, we are making interim changes to the design at this location with a paint and post treatment in the place of the proposed concrete curb. This will allow us to begin construction in 2024. We are continuing to work with our partnering agencies on the review and permitting process and once approved, we will install the concrete curb per our original design.

We appreciate the community support for this project and apologize for construction delays. The delays are the result of rigorous required environmental and safety review.

The project crosses the complex intersection of 16th Ave S and E Marginal Way S. The design in this area requires further review and permitting to ensure the safety of all travelers in the area. It is not possible to complete this process on our project's original timeline.

To help move the project forward, we are making interim changes to the design at this location. Instead of a concrete curb on the southwest side of 16th Ave S and E Marginal Way S, the curb will be painted and installed with flex posts. The interim change will still include the new pedestrian walk signals proposed in our original design. When the review and permitting process for this area is complete, we will install the concrete curb from our original design.

Community Outreach

Funding

In 2018, Seattle City Council approved $600,000 in the City budget for the outreach, planning, and early design of this project. in 2020, Seattle City Council approved $5.2 million for final design and construction. The project also received $1.5 million from the Federal Highway Administration in 2021 for construction. 

Materials

• 100% design plan set (February 2024)
• Fact Sheet (September 2023)
• Email archive
• Link to Seattle Design Commission presentations and meeting minutes
• Georgetown to South Park Conceptual Analysis Report - final (August 2019)
• Survey results map (September 2019)
• Planning phase - outreach summary (October 2019)
• Community preferred route map (September 2019)
• Georgetown to South Park Connection Celebration Event Poster
• Online Survey in English and Spanish (closed on July 31, 2019)
• Fact Sheet - English (June 2019)
• Fact Sheet - Spanish
• Fact Sheet - Vietnamese
• Fact Sheet - Khmer
• Written Route Survey - English (June 2019)
• Written Route Survey - Spanish
• Written Route Survey - Vietnamese
• Written Route Survey - Khmer
• Display Board with Route Options (June 2019)
• Georgetown to South Park Conceptual Analysis Report - draft (April 2019)
• Georgetown Mobility Study (2017)

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